Thiago rivals Haaland with hat-trick to punish dire Everton

Igor Thiago finds himself in "pretty esteemed company" according to Brentford's head coach, Keith Andrews, after the striker dismantled Everton with a cool and clinical hat-trick.

- Andy Hunter

The same will be true of Brentford themselves should this emphatic victory herald the end of their troubled away form.

Only Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane have scored more goals than the Brazilian across Europe's top five leagues after he reached 14 for the season.

Only Wolves and Burnley have lost more away games in the Premier League this campaign than Andrews's team but Brentford's previous results on the road defied comprehension on this evidence. The visitors were commanding and fully deserving of only their third away win of the season. Everton were dreadful and repeatedly punished by the unstoppable Thiago.

"His finishes were outstanding," Andrews said. "Really clinical, calm and confident. The names you've just mentioned [Haaland, Mbappé and Kane], he's in some pretty esteemed company there but he's earned it. He was injured for a lot of last season. He is such a popular player among our group and a special person who deserves everything he gets because he works so hard and is so unselfish."