View: Everton's season at make-or-break point ahead of upcoming clash

Everton’s upcoming clash with Brentford could make or break the season for David Moyes’ side.

The Toffees are locked in a race for European football, with Moyes having completely transformed fortunes on the pitch since rejoining the club last season.

With another week off following the culmination of the international break due to the FA Cup quarter-finals, the Blues are looking ahead to a season-defining clash against Brentford, who sit just a place above Everton in seventh.

Moyes’ side are looking to qualify for Europe for the first time since 2017, after years of mid-table obscurity and relegation battles have plagued the club since.

Now completely transformed, the coming weeks could decide what the end result is for Everton come May.

Everton and Brentford set for season-defining clash

Visitors Brentford have been sensational this season, with Keith Andrews building on the solid foundations built by Thomas Frank during his remarkable tenure.

Similarly to Everton, the Bees are now in the fight for Europe, with Toffees boss Moyes dragging the club away from the relegation worries of recent years.

Sitting just ahead on goal difference, Brentford do have the upper hand when it comes to the standings, but Everton have ended a big hoodoo in recent weeks.

On the eve of the international break, the Blues finally ended the wait for successive wins at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, with a scintillating 3-0 triumph against Chelsea – further emphasising just how real the European ambitions are.

Gaining confidence from this, the spirits should be high heading down to West London on 11 April.

And it won’t just be the points gained from Brentford that will aid the cause, with all further momentum gathered being ever so crucial as the Toffees prepare for their first Merseyside derby on home soil since making the move.

After the extended break, two back to back clashes could determine whether Everton are in this race for the long haul or not, and based on recent form it would be hard to back against them.

Everton were not expected to be here – they must capitalise

The simple fact of the matter is that the Blues were never expected to be in their current predicament at the start of the term.

After years fighting at the wrong end of the division, a simple mid-table finish would have sufficed for many among the fanbase – ridding the club of all recent worries.

Instead, European football and all of its benefits could well be on the table.

While the expectation was not there at the start of the campaign, Moyes’ side simply must capitalise on the opportunity now at hand.

With Everton looking to keep on progressing at their new state-of-the-art stadium, European football would allow the club to recruit and strengthen over the summer – due to both additional financial resources and the pulling power brought by continental football.

Moyes is in line for a new contract thanks to his work since returning to Merseyside, and his record in Europe speaks for itself having lifted the UEFA Conference League with West Ham.

The Toffees are one of the surprise packages this season, and they could well reap some fantastic rewards over the summer.

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