Manchester City will welcome Brentford to the Etihad Stadium this Wednesday for their 24th round game of the 2021/22 Premier League season
Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)
Key Statistics
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last ten matches in all competitions (W9, D1).
They have each of their last nine home games in all competitions, scoring 29 goals and conceding just seven times in that period.
Manchester City have been victorious in each of their last 17 games played on a Wednesday.
The hosts has opened the scoring on 17 occasions this season (W17) more than any other side.
Brentford haven’t visited Manchester City since a 4-1 loss at Maine Road in the League Cup in 1989.
Only two teams, Derby County and Bournemouth, have won against the reigning Premier League champions in their maiden campaign in the competition since the 1992-93 season.
The visitors have lost their last four PL games by an aggregate scoreline of 12-3.
Head to head
This is just the second Premier League head-to-head meeting between both sides, with the reverse fixture which City won 1-0 the first.
Latest performances in all competitions
Man City: W-D-W-W-W
Brentford: L-L-L-L-L
Manchester City
Manchester City will look to continue their dominance of the Premier League when they welcome Brentford to the Etihad this Wednesday.
The ‘Cityzens’ come into this tie fresh from a 4-1 win over Fulham in the FA Cup. Former Leicester City man Riyad Mharez was on top form in the game as he scored struck twice after the break following Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones’ efforts in the first half. Pep Guardiola’s side were forced to come from behind on their own turf after Liverpool target Fabio Carvalho broke the deadlock within four minutes.
The hosts hold a comfortable nine-point lead at the summit over Liverpool, but the Reds do have a game in hand over the reigning champions. And so a few poor results Man City could blow the race for glory wide open in the coming weeks.
However, given that they have won eleven of their last 12 league games gives them the edge in this game. At the Etihad, they have won their last nine games and should be able to see off Brentford in this tie.
Possible Manchester City starting line-up
Ederson; Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Ayermic Laporte, Joao Cancelo; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne; Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling.
Injured: Cole Palmer, Gabriel Jesus
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Brentford
Unlike their hosts, Brentford are enduring a miserable run of results. After a solid start for their first-ever Premier League season, the Bees come into this tie sitting in 14th place.
They have lost their last five games in all competitions, with the latest losses coming in the FA Cup against a Frank Lampard-marshalled Everton side.
Goals from Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate, Richarlison and Andros Townsend gave the Toffees a comfortable win and saw Brentford exit in the fourth round with a whimper.
They will now turn their attention to trying to end a worrying losing run in the Premier League before the threat of a relegation dogfight presents itself.
They are still eight points clear of the relegation zone, though, and have enough time to correct their slide.
However, their recent away league form suggests that another loss is on the cards here. The Bees are now winless in seven away games in the top flight – losing five of them while conceding a whopping 19 goals in that miserable pattern.
Possible Brentford starting line-up
David Raya; Kristoffer Ajer, Pontus Jansson, Ethan Pinnock; Sergi Canos, Christian Norgaard, Frank Onyeka, Mathias Jensen, Rico Henry; Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo.
Injured: Mathias Jorgensen, Tarique Fosu, Julian Jeanvier.
Doubtful: Christian Eriksen
Suspended: None
Prediction
Manchester City 2-0 Brentford
