Manchester United will look to continue the recent winning run when they take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.
The 2023/24 Premier League season resumes this weekend with Gameweek 30. The latest round of fixtures gets underway on Saturday with the match between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St. James’ Park. The action on the day will end at the Gtech Community Stadium, where Brentford will host Manchester United.
Brentford fans would not have envisioned as frustrating a season as they have endured thus far. The Bees are in a precarious position on the table after failing to win their last six games, with 18th-placed Nottingham Forest only five points behind them. But Bryan Mbeumo’s return should have a galvanising effect at the Gtech Community Stadium.
As for Manchester United, they have blown hot and cold throughout the 2023/24 season. The pressure has been mounting on Erik ten Hag, with the club scouring the market for a potential replacement. However, the fans would have heaved a sigh of relief after the comeback 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final. But a top-four finish might be a tall order, with Aston Villa nine points ahead.
The reverse fixture was an engrossing affair that saw Manchester United coming from a goal down to beat Brentford 2-1, with Scott McTominay scoring a match-winning brace in injury time. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Brentford
Thomas Frank has a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Saturday, the Brentford manager will be bereft of the services of eight first-team players.
Sergio Reguilon is the latest absentee after seeing red against Burnley. The Spaniard, who had been on loan at Manchester United in the first half of the 2023/24 season, has joined Ben Mee (ankle), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Rico Henry (knee), Ethan Pinnock (ankle), Christian Norgaard (back), Joshua Dasilva (knee), and Kevin Schade (hip) on the sidelines.
Mark Flekken will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Brentford lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him against Manchester United. The central defensive trifecta should feature Zanka, Nathan Collins, and Kristoffer Ajer. Meanwhile, Keane Lewis-Potter should replace Reguilon as the left wing-back, with Mads Roerslev starting on the opposite flank.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Vitaly Janelt, Frank Onyeka, and Mathias Jensen in the middle of the park, with Onyeka deputising for Norgaard. Finally, Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney should be the two strikers for the home side.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Flekken; Zanka, Collins, Ajer; Roerslev, Jensen, Onyeka, Janelt, Lewis-Potter; Mbeumo, Toney
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Brentford dugout, Erik ten Hag has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. The Manchester United manager will be without five first-team players on Saturday.
Amad Diallo is the latest absentee, as he serves a suspension after seeing red against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final. In addition, Harry Maguire will likely miss out after picking up a knock in the international break. Luke Shaw (hamstring), Tyrell Malacia (knee), and Anthony Martial (groin) are long-term absentees.
However, Erik ten Hag has also greeted positive updates on the team news front, with Altay Bayindir (knock), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Casemiro (muscle injury), and Jonny Evans (muscle injury) closing in on returning to action. The Dutchman has hinted that Martinez might return on Saturday.
But with games coming thick and fast, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof should start as the two centre-backs, with ten Hag easing Martinez back into the thick of things. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot should join Varane and Lindelof in the backline, with Andre Onana taking his spot between the sticks.
As for the midfield unit, Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay should pair up in the double pivot. Bruno Fernandes will reprise his usual no. 10 role, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho being the two wide attackers. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund should lead the line for Manchester United against Brentford.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Varane, Dalot; Mainoo, McTominay; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Brentford have lost seven of their last nine league meetings with Manchester United. But the Bees won this fixture 4-0 last season.
- Manchester United’s seven league visits to Brentford have produced 30 goals, an average of 4.3 per game. Both of their top-flight defeats at the Bees have been by a 4-0 scoreline (October 1936 and August 2022).
- Manchester United have won just one of their last eight Premier League away games against London sides, losing four of the most recent five.
- Only the bottom two sides, Burnley and Sheffield United, have lost more Premier League games than Brentford this season. Since a three-game winning run in October/November, the Bees have won just three of their subsequent 18 outings.
- Manchester United have won more games by a one-goal margin — 12 of their 15 victories — than any other side in the Premier League this season.
Player to Watch
Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund has not featured in the Premier League since breaking the record for being the youngest player to score in six successive Premier League games. He was the catalyst in Manchester United enjoying an unbeaten start to 2024.
So, it is hardly surprising that the Red Devils blew hot and cold in his absence and carried a greater threat with him back in the team against Liverpool. With the business end of the 2023/24 season approaching, Hojlund’s performances will hold the key, and he will be eager to continue his Premier League run on Saturday.
Prediction
Brentford 1-3 Manchester United
Recent meetings between Brentford and Manchester United have the Bees being competitive despite the largely one-sided head-to-head record. The London outfit nearly took three points off Erik ten Hag’s side in the reverse fixture before Scott McTominay’s late brace robbed them.
Brentford should again take the game to Manchester United as they look to pull away from the relegation zone. However, the Red Devils should produce a more assured performance, especially with Rasmus Hojlund back in the Premier League for the first time in six weeks. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Erik ten Hag and his charges.