Manchester City will continue their defence of the Premier League title this Saturday when they welcome Brentford to Etihad Stadium.
Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)
Key Statistics
Manchester City have won their last 16 home games in all competitions.
The hosts have scored 2+ goals in each of their last 17 home games (W16, D1).
They have scored first before the 25th minute in each of their last five home league games.
Erling Haaland’s record of 16 goals across his last ten PL appearances has matched Luis Suárez’s record of netting 16 times in a ten-game PL stretch that ended in December 2013.
Brentford have won just one of their last eight games (D4, L3).
The Bees conceded the opener before the 25th minute in each of their last three away league games.
They have failed to win any of their last seven away league matches
Brentford have conceded 2+ more goals in seven of their last ten away matches.
Head to head
Brentford have lost their last four games against City, failing to score in their last two.
Latest performances in all competitions
Manchester City: W-W-W-W-D
Brentford: L-D-D-L-D
Manchester City
After securing a place in the round of the EFL Cup with a 2-0 win over Chelsea, Manchester City will look to continue their impressive start to the season when they welcome Brentford to the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola named a significantly weakened side against Chelsea in midweek, with Ortega Moreno, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and Sergio Gomez all getting a start.
However, the Cityzens started off as the better side and pegged the Blues back in their own half in the early stages of the game. Back-up goalie Ortega Moreno was called into action twice in the first half to deny both Christian Pulisic and Chelsea debutant Lewis Hall as the first half finished goalless.
The second half started in a similar fashion, with Manchester City dominating the proceedings. However, the breakthrough was not to come until the 53rd minute when Riyad Mahrez bent a beautiful free kick into the top corner, leaving Edouard Mendy rooted to the spot. Julian Alvarez doubled the lead five minutes later, smashing in a rebound following a Riyad Mahrez shot.
Manchester City will now look to secure their fourth straight win in the Premier League when they take on Frank Thomas’s side. With the Premier League coming to a halt due to the World Cup, the Cityzens stand a chance of going into the break as the league leaders, albeit pending the result of Arsenal away to Wolves.
Therefore, Pep Guardiola will be keen to see his side remain in pole position to usurp the league leaders by taking maximum points from Brentford.
Possible Manchester City starting line-up
Ederson; John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Aké, Joao Cancelo; Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Phil Foden; Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish.
Injured: Kyle Walker
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Brentford
Brentford will be looking to break their five-game winless jinx when they take on Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Bees come into this game off the back of a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League last weekend.
Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring for Forest in the 20th minute, however, Bryan Mbeumo equalised for the Bees from the penalty spot. Just before the break. Brentford continued to probe for the win after the break and finally found their break in the 75th minute when Dr Congo striker Yoane Wissa put them in front and looked set to seal all three points until Mathias Jorgensen put the ball into his own net to share the spoils at The City Ground.
Thomas Frank’s side also recorded their second and third consecutive draw against Gillingham last Tuesday where the League two side progressed on penalties. The Danish coach will now look to get his side to a strong finish before the League comes to a halt.
However, the Bees will face a daunting task when they take on Manchester City, but with two wins and three losses in their last five games against the Champions, Thomas Frank will fancy his team’s chances of causing a set-up at the Etihad Stadium.
Possible Brentford starting line-up
David Raya; M. R. Rasmussen, Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Rico Henry, Sergi Canos; Keane Lewis-Potter, Mathias Jensen, Joshua Dasilva; Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa.
Injured: Shandon Baptiste, Kristoffer Ajer, Aaron Hickey, Thomas Strakosha, Pontus Jansson
Doubtful: Vitaly Janelt
Suspended: None
Prediction
Manchester City 3-0 Brentford
