Brentford vs Manchester United

Manchester United will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they take on the division’s newcomers Brentford at the Brentford Community Stadium.

A come-from-behind 2-1 home win over Aston Villa on New Year’s Day appears to have been a fluke, with Brentford losing their last two Premier League games by an aggregate score of 7-1, falling to a 2+ goal margin on both occasions. Despite their underwhelming form, the ‘Bees’ can draw confidence from their recent impressive showings at home, having won three of their last four league matches at the Brentford Community Stadium (L1). Though none of Brentford’s previous seven Premier League home fixtures have ended as a draw (W3, L4), those contests have been notably tight, with each of them yielding a single-goal margin at full-time. Brentford’s home action usually sparks into life beyond half-time, as witnessed by the fact eight of their 12 top-flight goals scored at home this season have come in the second half of play.

In the meantime, Manchester City could only manage a disappointing 2-2 draw at Aston Villa last time out despite boasting a two-goal lead in the 77th minute. As a result, the ‘Red Devils’ are now winless in three of their last four Premier League fixtures (D2, L1), throwing their Champions League qualification hopes into the corridor of doubt. Away from home, Ralf Rangnick’s men have only won one of their last five Premier League matches (D3, L1) despite taking the lead in two of those three draws. However, Man United can find some comfort in their encouraging top-flight form in London, having gone unbeaten in 12 consecutive league games in the nation’s capital since losing 2-0 at Arsenal in January 2020. What’s more, they remain the only Premier League side to have scored in all ten away league matches this season, averaging 1.5 goals per game.