Manchester United host Brentford on Wednesday in their first game at Old Trafford in April. The Red Devils are scarily close to losing their grip on the Premier League top-4 race and have struggled in the league since the 7-0 loss to Liverpool in March.
They face a confident Brentford side that is vying for an ambitious top-7 finish this season, which could help them get European football for the first time in their history next year. The Bees are fearless and having defeated United earlier this season, they won’t be daunted by this trip.
Fortunately for United, the best of their results this season have come at home. Erik ten Hag has helped reconstruct Old Trafford into a fortress for his side and they haven’t lost a home game in the Premier League since the opening-day defeat to Brighton.
Brentford’s last win was on the trip to Southampton last month and they’re winless in their last two Premier League. United, on the other hand, are winless in three league games. So basically this tie will be one where both sides aim to end their frustrating winless record in the Premier League.
Last 5 Games
Both teams come into this game in relatively similar form, but the Bees have had a bit of an upper hand over the last five games. Brentford have only lost one of their last five Premier League games, as compared to the Red Devils losing twice in the same period.
Manchester United: 4th
Loss: 2-0 Newcastle United
Draw: 0-0 Southampton
Loss: 7-0 Liverpool
Win: 3-0 Leicester City
Win: 2-0 Leeds United
Brentford: 7th
Draw: 3-3 Brighton
Draw: 1-1 Leicester City
Win: 2-0 Southampton
Loss: 1-0 Everton
Win: 3-2 Fulham
Team News
The Red Devils are missing some key midfielders for this game. Casemiro is still suspended after getting sent off in the draw against Southampton – with the Brentford game being the third of his four-match suspension.
Christian Eriksen is back in training after sustaining a nasty injury in January but is unlikely to be able to play his former side. Aaron Wan-Bissaka could return if able to recover from an illness that kept him out of the Newcastle game. Alejandro Garnacho and Donny van de Beek are ruled out with injuries for United.
Thomas Frank’s side are missing some experienced players due to injury as well. Defender Kristoffer Ajer suffered a calf injury earlier this year and he is still out with that problem. Vitaly Janelt is out with a knee injury too.
The Bees will also be missing young striker Keane Lewis-Potter with an injury, but midfielder Shandon Baptiste will be back after being suspended for the Brighton game.
Possible Lineups
Manchester United: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, McTominay, Sabitzer, Fernandes, Antony, Sancho, Rashford
Brentford: Raya, Hickey, Jansson, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Norgaard, Damsgaard, Jansen, Mbeumo, Toney
Head-to-Head
Man United hold the advantage over Brentford in their overall head-to-head record in history. The two sides have met on 16 occasions, with the Red Devils winning on eight occasions and Brentford winning on six.
The last time these two sides met was on 13 August 2022. It was the second game of the Premier League season and ended up as a major disaster in Erik ten Hag’s first away league game as United manager.
Brentford moped the floor with the Red Devils, giving them a major reality check with a huge 4-0 win – in which they scored four times in the first half itself.
Where the game will be decided
Having conceded nine goals in their last three league games, Manchester United have shown major signs of vulnerability when it comes to their defensive work.
With that being said, they’ve also kept clean sheets in their last two home league games – so Brentford will have to work hard to put an end to their unbeaten streak at home since the start of the season.
Like the last game, this will be heavily dependent on who dominates the midfield battle. With no Eriksen or Casemiro, United are weaker than usual. Brentford have some energetic midfielders whose clever pressing and distribution has troubled many times.
Bruno Fernandes will have a major role in running the show for United. He’ll need to find the ball in key midfield areas and play his forwards through on goal. Marcus Rashford has been in amazing form this season with 27 goals and his menacing ability to score goals at Old Trafford makes him a major threat.
Brentford will need to hope their sturdy defensive set-up can frustrate the Red Devils and that their forwards are clinical enough to put away the counter-attacks perfectly.
Prediction
We’re backing United to come out victorious in this one. It should be an exciting, end-to-end display – but the Red Devils should have enough firepower to at least scrap their way into getting a win.
Brentford seems to be experiencing a dip in form, having drawn their last two games. United will be gunning for revenge for the humiliating loss from earlier this season and with the Old Trafford crowd roaring them on, they should get a win.
Man United 2-1 Brentford
Odds*
United to win: 4/6
Draw: 16/5
Brentford to win: 19/4
*By Betfair At the time of writing
Kick-off Time
The match gets underway at Old Trafford at 8 PM GMT, with the referee for the game being John Brooks.
