Manchester City look to go top of Premier League as Pep Guardiola’s Citizens welcome Brentford to the Etihad Stadium.
Victory would see Man City go top until Saturday evening at minimum, with current league leaders – Arsenal set to visit Wolves in Saturday Night Football at Molineux.
Brentford meanwhile can go as high as ninth with a win.
Team News
Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland could be amongst a host of players expected to return to the starting line-up for Man City, having been rested in their midweek Carabao Cup victory against Chelsea.
Joao Cancelo is also set to return after he was suspended in midweek but Kyle Walker (groin) remains absent.
Brentford will be without Shandon Baptiste after he missed Tuesday’s shock Carabao Cup exit to Gillingham with an adductor injury.
Vitaly Janelt (muscle) is a doubt but Thomas Stakosha, Aaron Hickey (both ankle), Kristoffer Ajer, Charlie Goode (both knee) and Pontus Jansson (hamstring) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Man City have won their two previous Premier League meetings against Brentford without conceding (W2).
- Brentford lost their only previous visit to the Etihad Stadium by a 2-0 result in February 2022.
- Two of Man City’s three goals against Brentford across both meetings last season were scored in the first half, courtesy of Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez respectively.
- Only four of Man City’s 39 league goals this season have been scored via headers.
- 12 of Brentford’s 21 league goals this season have been scored by English players – Ivan Toney (8), Josh Dasilva (2) and Ben Mee (2).
Prediction
Although Man City haven’t been firing on all cylinders in their last two home matches coincidentally against Brentford’s fellow West-London rivals – Fulham and Chelsea, the Citizens have ultimately been clinical amidst their dominant play so I expect more of the same here.
Brentford meanwhile should be embarrassed by their midweek Carabao Cup exit against Gillingham, which should hopefully encourage a reaction here because they just showboated too much against the Gills instead of aggressively attacking their defence.
Thomas Frank’s Bees though do know how to score goals and defend well but with Haaland set to return and their own injury issues, I do worry for them if City come out firing but hopefully Brentford will have enough to at least mount a fight.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Brentford
Result: Manchester City 1-2 Brentford