By Ian King
Inconsistency Kings
Brentford are the Premier League’s inconsistency champions. They haven’t gained, misplaced or drawn greater than two successive video games all season, they usually’ve solely managed two successive something 5 occasions, though that does embrace a reasonably swashbuckling 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Thursday evening so as to add to their 4-2 win in opposition to Brighton final weekend.
Manchester United are 5 Premier League matches with out a win and went into the weekend 14th within the desk, however they proceed to indicate their greatest selves in Europe, with a convincing 3-0 win at Athletic Membership in Bilbao within the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. However that win isn’t essentially a predictor for the way they’ll do within the League the next weekend. After they got here from behind to beat Lyon 5-4 within the final spherical, they misplaced at residence to Wolves the next Sunday.
Historical past
For all of the chuckles that they’ve supplied over time, Manchester United’s document has been fairly respectable in opposition to Brentford, with 5 wins and one draw from their seven conferences for the reason that Bees’ promotion into the Premier League in 2021. Brentford’s sole Premier League win in opposition to United – 4-0 at Griffin Park again in August 2022 – was a good-looking one but it surely was additionally their first and solely since February 1938.
Key gamers
Bryan Mbeumo has 18 Premier League targets thus far this season whereas Yoane Wissa has 17. Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s prime Premier League goalscorer, with eight. Silence these two, and also you’ve gone greater than midway in the direction of silencing Brentford. Fernandes has really scored extra targets in all competitions than Mbeumo, although. Whereas all the Brentford striker’s targets this season have come within the Premier League (and Wissa solely has one cup aim), Fernandes has scored 11 in different competitions, together with two on Thursday evening, taking him to 19 in whole. This doesn’t mirror properly on United’s forwards.
Staff Information
With no new damage issues on account of their midweek journey to Spain, it’s very a lot as you have been for Manchester United. Ayden Heaven and Toby Collyer may return, however Diogo Dalot remains to be a minimum of a few weeks off. Joshua Zirkzee and Lisandro Martínez are out for the rest of the season.
Brentford additionally got here by their journey to Nottingham Forest unscathed, and none of these at the moment of their remedy room – Vitaly Janelt, Joshua Dasilva, Fabio Carvalho, Igor Thiago and Aaron Hickey – are anticipated again a lot earlier than the very finish of the season.
Prediction
WIth good midweek wins below their belts, each of those groups can come into this match in a fairly constructive way of thinking. Brentford have excellent attacking choices and Manchester United’s defence could be a little lackadaisical, however then Brentford’s residence document has been poor and Manchester United stay within the backside half of the Premier League on benefit. These masters of inconsistency are going to finish up cancelling one another out, so let’s go for the 1-1 draw.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
You may comply with each recreation from the Premier League with FotMob this season – that includes deep stats protection, xG, and participant scores. Obtain the free app right here.