Premier League: Brentford vs Manchester City Live
Preview
Facing the only Premier League team that defeated them twice last season, Manchester City will play against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Monday night. Manchester City easily defeated Burnley 3-1 in their recent match, while Brentford, led by Thomas Frank, couldn’t capitalize on an early lead and lost 3-2 to Tottenham Hotspur.
Neal Maupay, known for provoking opponents, imitated James Maddison’s dart-throwing celebration after scoring in the 15th minute, which upset Tottenham players and fans. However, Brentford and Maupay were ultimately defeated by Tottenham, with Destiny Udogie, Richarlison, and Brennan Johnson nullifying Maupay’s goal before Ivan Toney scored a consolation goal in the second half. Despite the entertaining match, the social media feud between Maddison and Maupay overshadowed the on-field action, much to Ange Postecoglou’s disappointment.
The loss to Spurs served as a reality check for Thomas Frank and his team, following their uplifting win over Nottingham Forest on January 20. Brentford currently sits in 15th place, just three points above the relegation zone, after a poor run of form in the winter, winning only one of their last nine matches across all competitions. Additionally, they have not kept a clean sheet since their victory over Chelsea in October, with only Arsenal managing to shut them out in a Premier League home game so far in the 2023-24 season.
Brentford has not been performing well lately, but Manchester City’s typical strong performance in the second half of the season continues to gain momentum. The reigning Premier League and European champions secured their eighth consecutive win against Burnley, with Julian Alvarez scoring the opening goal on his 24th birthday, followed by a goal from Rodri and a consolation goal for Burnley. This victory marked their eighth consecutive win across all competitions and their fourth consecutive maximum points in the Premier League. Despite some defensive issues, Manchester City has maintained a strong attacking record, scoring at least two goals in their last six league matches and remaining unbeaten in 11 Monday night games under Pep Guardiola’s management.
Head-to-head
Brentford surprised Manchester City by defeating them twice in the last Premier League season. Manchester City have only managed to win two out of their last five visits to Brentford.
Prediction
Despite Brentford’s ability to continue their impressive scoring streak at the Gtech Community Stadium, they have suffered the most setbacks from leading positions in the current season compared to any other team in the league. With a fully-fit Manchester City squad, who have managed to win their last three away games in the Premier League despite initially falling behind, Brentford’s relegation concerns are likely to worsen as Manchester City’s winning streak persists.
