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• Dyche: Takeover would bring 'stability' and 'clear up noise' at Everton

  Sean Dyche hopes Everton's impending takeover will help bring "stability" and "clear up the noise" surrounding Goodison Park.

  The Friedkin Group, who also own Serie A side Roma, reached an agreement to buy Farhad Moshiri's majority stake in the Toffees earlier this week.

  The takeover is subject to approval from the Premier League and if the group passes the Owners' and Directors' Test, though it could reportedly be completed in the next eight to 12 weeks.

  And Dyche believes the move will provide a timely lift for Everton, who have collected just one point from their opening five Premier League matches this season.

  "It looks like a stronger situation than the past," he told reporters ahead of Saturday's showdown with Crystal Palace.

  "There is a long way to go to get everything to a final point, but the early signs look favourable in the situation. We will have to wait and see.

  “Openly speaking, [the takeover will bring] more stability. It has been on unsettled ground for such a long time now, with varying situations and various opinions.

  "It will clear up the noise that surrounds Everton Football Club."

  Dyche, who is into the final year of his contract at Goodison Park, expects to meet with the Friedkin Group "at some point" for discussions surrounding his future, which is reportedly uncertain given the Toffees' poor form.

  When asked about his future, he told reporters: "It is not really relevant. I was brought here as a custodian and to do a specific job and I continue to work hard at that.

  "We have to change the results, but the workload here has been considerable.

  "I don’t know what their strategy is, what their belief is and the culture they want to make at Everton Football Club. They might be looking at the history or the future. I will have to wait and see."

• Solskjaer 'would say yes every day of the week' to Man Utd return

  Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be open to returning to Manchester United as manager, admitting he "would say yes every day of the week" if the possibility arose.

  Solskjaer was dismissed by the Red Devils in November 2021 after just under three years in charge at Old Trafford.

  The Norwegian, who initially replaced Jose Mourinho on an interim basis in December 2018, led United to a second-place Premier League finish in the 2020-21 season, but a run of six defeats in 11 matches culminated in his departure.

  Erik ten Hag - the man who permanently succeeded him at Old Trafford - has come under increasing pressure following a difficult start to this term, which has brought just three wins from the Red Devils' opening eight games.

  And Solskjaer, who has worked as a technical observer for UEFA since leaving the club, refused to rule out a second stint in charge if called upon.

  "If the family [United] asks, I would say yes every day of the week," he said during a Q&A at the Oslo Business Forum.

  "It feels wrong to talk about jobs that other people have now, but I would say yes, of course."

  With Norway coach Stale Solbakken expected to step down at the end of their 2026 World Cup campaign, Solskjaer admitted he would also be tempted by the opportunity to take charge of his nation.

  "I am a proud Norwegian," he added. "Of course, if the question arises - when Stale decides to give up - I will happily engage in discussions."

• Lopetegui calling for consistency after EFL Cup humiliation

  Julen Lopetegui believes West Ham have deserved more than just four points from their opening five Premier League games but called on his players to be more clinical in front of goal.

  The Hammers exited the EFL Cup in midweek against Liverpool despite taking the lead, with a second-half collapse seeing them end up on the wrong end of a 5-1 defeat at Anfield.

  Lopetegui has endured a frustrating start to his West Ham tenure thus far but is hoping that a victory against Brentford this weekend will kick his side into gear.

  "I am sure that these players will overcome but it is true that we need one win, and we want to win the next match,” Lopetegui said.

  "Brentford are a strong team and we have to head into the match with big energy and commitment. In the Premier League, each match is very difficult for every team.

  "We have had good moments, but we need to be more consistent to make sure we win matches.

  "In the matches we have lost we have deserved more, but I repeat, we have lost them, and we don’t find excuses, and we have to improve."

  Another head coach hoping to see his side rediscover their goal-scoring touch is Brentford’s Thomas Frank after seeing his team lose to Tottenham last time out.

  Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring with just 23 seconds on the clock for the visitors, only for Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and James Maddison to respond to relieve the pressure on Ange Postecoglou.

  While the Bees head coach acknowledged the gulf between both sides, he said that his problems have not been made easier with the absence of some of his key players.

  "I'm very pleased with the performance, I think we did a lot of good things,” Frank said.

  "We need to take those chances if we want to get something here, playing against a very good team who have performed well over the first five games.

  "We are playing against a team whose end stand is bigger than our stadium in terms of capacity. That shows the difference. No complaints.

  "It's my job to put a competitive team out there but it doesn't help when we have five potential starters out."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo

  Mbeumo has been involved in 13 goals in his last 14 London derby appearances in the Premier League (10 goals and three assists).

  He’s also scored four of Brentford’s seven league goals so far this season.

  West Ham – Jarrod Bowen

  Bowen has scored more league goals against Brentford than he has against any other side in his career (seven), also netting a hat-trick against the Bees in a 4-2 Premier League win last season.

  MATCH PREDICTION: BRENTFORD WIN

  Brentford have won four of their last five home league games against West Ham (D1), winning all three against them in the Premier League.

  The Bees have also scored at least twice in all six of their Premier League meetings with the Hammers, the joint-most one side has faced another while scoring multiple goals each time in the competition’s history (Arsenal also six vs Reading).

  Frank’s side have opened the scoring in the opening 23 seconds in both of their last league games (22 seconds v Man City and 23 seconds v Tottenham) but have gone on to lose both times. Indeed, since the start of last season, the Bees have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side (36).

  But having lost their first five Premier League games against Brentford, West Ham won their last league meeting with the Bees 4-2 in February.

  However, the Hammers have conceded more goals in 2024 than any other current Premier League side (53), with the Hammers shipping 3+ goals in eight different games so far this calendar year.

  West Ham, though, will be hoping to continue their solid run away from the London Stadium. Despite losing three of their five home games this season, they have found success on their travels, going unbeaten so far (W1 D1).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Brentford – 43.4%

  Draw – 25.1%

  West Ham – 31.5%