Manchester United

Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "100%. It is easier to say that every game we want to win but of course after the draw against Wolves at Old Trafford three was a negative feeling and we wanted to change that, to come here and win, and to step into the top four. Today the feeling is a little bit like this again, we wanted to win but we drew, so we need to go again.

"I feel like the first half was ok. We talk in the dressing room about managing the press and we tried to do something but we did not create a lot. In the second half we have the goal which I think was a lack of attention from everyone but we scored after three minutes and give ourselves energy to try to go for more."

On his disallowed goal: "Honestly I don't understand. I talked to the referee and I asked him 'Who was offside' and he said Ben [Sesko] I think but I don't remember him participating in the action. It was Casemiro who gave the ball to me and then I shot so I'm not sure where Sesko is. For me it was a little bit frustrating.

On Zirkzee: "Josh is a pleasure to play with him, he has a lot of quality. His situation is not good but he has the quality to change it. He needs to understand this and we want to count on him. We are here to push him. After the goal last week and the assist today he will have more confidence to be with us and do his role."

On resilience away from home: "It was an important point for us. We talked about the resilience. Everyone knows how important the players are that were missing today but we have a big character in the team. We did it and I hope we can do a lot more the next game."

Due to a medical emergency at the ground, kick-off at Craven Cottage has been delayed by 15 minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

The Bees begin this contest just one place behind Everton in the Premier League table but while the Toffees' tally of 28 points has been split exactly into 14 apiece at home and on the road, Brentford have been heavily reliant on results at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Only bottom side Wolves have lost more Premier League away games than Brentford this season. The Bees' tally of seven away defeats is just one fewer than they sustained in the entirety of last season.

Keith Andrews' side did win their most recent away fixture, triumphing at Wolves on 20 December, but they have found visits to the blue half of Merseyside more difficult, failing to score in their past three fixtures at Everton (D1, L2).

Everton's home form, however, has not been as strong as perhaps Moyes would like, alternating between victory and defeat in their past six Premier League games at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees lost 1-0 against Arsenal last time out, but they have not been defeated in successive home matches in a year – although Moyes may well wish more of his injured players were back in time for Sunday's match if that record is not to come under threat.

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Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

Manager David Moyes regarded Everton's win at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night as one of the best since his return to the club last January because of the quality of personnel who were unavailable for selection.

The Toffees were missing Jarrad Branthwaite, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carlos Alcaraz, Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane, while Jack Grealish was only fit enough to start on the bench.

Merlin Rohl, who joined from Freiburg last summer, made his first Premier League start and right-back Nathan Patterson his first start of the season at the City Ground.

Seven of the nine substitutes listed in midweek had never played Premier League football before – a situation which means that Everton have recalled teenage midfielder Harrison Armstrong from an impressive loan spell at Preston North End.

Keane is the only senior player who may return from injury in time to face Brentford.

Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear, however, has indicated that the club will only do business in January if the right players are available at a reasonable cost, with resources more likely to be focused on continuing the club's rebuild in the summer.

Chris Sutton
BBC football expert

Everton have had a great season so far. Beating Forest was an important result for them, because the six teams immediately above them all dropped points.

They are now in eighth place and, with another home league game against Wolves to come after this one, their fans must be thinking this week is a real opportunity to climb higher.

It won't be easy against Brentford, however. Keith Andrews' side took seven points out of a possible nine over Christmas, and are also in the top half of the table.

I actually think the Bees are a better team when Jordan Henderson isn't playing - Andrews left him out of their wins over Bournemouth and Wolves and they seem to have a bit more energy without him in the team.

Whether Henderson plays or not, I just can't see a lot of goals here - one will probably be enough to win it.

Brentford are very effective on the counter-attack and are certainly capable of getting a result, but I am going to back Everton to edge it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker to BBC Sport

Fulham did really well over Christmas, especially when you consider they have lost key players to the African Cup of Nations.

Liverpool must be massively disappointed with their display and result against Leeds, after the upturn in their performances in the past couple of weeks.

Like a lot of teams, Arne Slot's side are maybe short of energy at such a busy time of year, and are lacking the spark they need.

They lost here last season, and Fulham will fancy a repeat result. I'm not sure about that, but I do think Marco Silva's side will get something from the game.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Liverpool had stopped the rot in terms of defeats but all is still not well at Anfield.

In their last six games, Arne Slot's side have drawn against Leeds home and away and against Sunderland at Anfield.

Not good enough as far as the champions are concerned.

Mark Schwarzer
Former Fulham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live at Craven Cottage

I think Florian Wirtz is best coming in from wide. I think he's going to be more on the left-hand side. I think it's going to be fluid. I don't think they'll be staying in the same positions.

They'll have width as they always do and Wirtz will tuck in. He's frightening when he has the ball and he's running at players. He's starting to hit some form.

With Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike out with injury, it means Arne Slot may well deploy Florian Wirtz as a false nine with Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Or I might be incredibly wrong and Liverpool play some sort of diamond formation with their four midfielders all playing.

Image source, Getty Images

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Craven Cottage

Arne Slot says that Hugo Ekitike picked up a slight hamstring injury because of his recent workload.

But the Liverpool boss is hopeful that Ekitike will be back to face Arsenal on Thursday.

It’s far from ideal situation for Liverpool.

Liverpool now know that a win today takes them five points above Manchester United in fifth after their 1-1 draw at Leeds.

But three points for Fulham will take them level on points with Chelsea in sixth before they take on Manchester City at the Etihad.

Owen Hargreaves
Former Manchester United midfielder on TNT Sports

I think Manchester United will probably realise that it's a fair point. They didn't really create much in the game, very little from open play. They looked a lot better, more dangerous when Zirkzee came on. He added more creativity and allowed Cunha to get into some better positions. In the end you can't expect to come here and win if you don't create more chances.

Manchester United

Goalscorer Matheus Cunha speaking to TNT Sports: "After the game against Wolves it was a little bit sad for us. Of course we want to win every single game, and then have a big opportunity to get into the top four.

"We need to keep going. After the draw, to come here isn't easy, we know how big this game is for everyone. But it is good to get a point here.

On the game being physical: "It was so hard. We know what to expect, of course for them they try to do everything to win. It's hard, a lot of physical, but every single game when we wear this shirt we have to give it all, and today was no different."

On the equaliser he scored: "It's very important to go again after they score. We tried to do everything to win this game, and we hope the next one comes with three points.

"When everyone is here, we have everyone to create with me and create a lot of good things. We need to keep improving and try again in the next one."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Frank's relationship with Tottenham Hotspur's fans is a fractious one. He felt their fury when they jeered him at the end of drab goalless draw at Brentford, so he needs a big improvement against Sunderland here today.

Sunderland have made a superb return to the Premier League and they will be looking to play on the frustrations currently being felt at Spurs.

Frank needs a win here, preferably in some style, as he has failed to convince supporters he can provide the sort of football they want.

An important day for the Dane.

Chris Sutton
BBC football expert

I'm not sure if Sunderland will have anything left in the tank after their efforts against Manchester City on Thursday.

It was another example of why they have done so well - they defended brilliantly, but they were dangerous when they got the ball and they could have beaten City too.

Mind you, Tottenham are so drab at the moment that it probably won't matter too much if the Black Cats are low on energy.

Sunderland are always so well organised at the back, while I don't think Spurs, in an attacking sense, have really clicked this season.

Tottenham will be exhausted as well, so I don't see many goals in this one - in fact, I don't see any at all.

A goalless draw is unlikely to cheer the Spurs supporters up much, either.

I know they love getting angry, but they are a fanbase who don't actually seem to know what they want - is it a manager who delivers attractive attacking football, or someone who can set up a team to keep a clean sheet every week?

Sutton's prediction: 0-0

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Image source, Getty Images

2025 was a momentous year for both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.

Newcastle ended a seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy by lifting the Carabao Cup before going on to qualify for the Champions League.

Crystal Palace won major silverware for the first time after winning the FA Cup, and went on to defeat Liverpool in the Community Shield.

But it was a year not without its challenges, too, for Newcastle and Crystal Palace, who lost star players – Alexander Isak and Eberechi Eze – and who have been tested while fighting on multiple fronts this season.

How both of these sides could use a win at a chilly St James’ Park to get the new year off to a perfect start in the league.

Even the measured Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has recognised this is a “season-defining” month because his team "won’t get another chance” to finally close the gap on the European places.

While stretched Crystal Palace, who are above Newcastle in the table, could do with a lift after failing to win any of their last six games in all competitions.

Oliver Glasner’s side will be boosted by the arrival of £35m signing Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur, though.

The Wales forward arrived in time to feature in this game - and will be eager to be involved.

Joe Hart
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on TNT Sports

It's a big point for Leeds. It keeps their positive run going. They were pushing at the end with loads of attacking players on the pitch. They would have loved the win but this continues a really good spell in their season.

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