Football News

Manchester City vs Brentford predicted XIs: Team news and probable line-ups

By Squawka News

Published: 18:00, 12 September 2024

Premier League champions Manchester City defend their 100% record at home to Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

Predicted XIs:

Manchester City (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Doku, Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland.

Brentford (4-3-3): Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Janelt; Jensen, Norgaard, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade.

The new Premier League season is only three games old, and questions are already being asked about who might be able to stop Manchester City from gaining a fifth straight title.

Liverpool have also won three times and have yet to concede a goal, but City have looked supreme with their efforts, which are summed up by more incredible statistics for striker Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian hitman has seven goals already, having scored hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham, and was also on target against Austria in midweek, so he shows no signs of slowing down.

Brentford head to the Etihad with fond memories of the 2-1 victory they claimed there the season before last, but Ivan Toney scored both of their goals that day and has now departed to Saudi Arabia.

Nevertheless, while they lost 2-0 at Liverpool in their only away game of the season so far, Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo have looked sharp in home victories over Crystal Palace and Southampton, so Thomas Frank’s side will be hopeful that they can put on a good show against the champions.

The game kicks off at 15:00 BST at the Etihad Stadium, but will not be televised live in the UK.

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Manchester City vs Brentford Team News

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will hope that Phil Foden has recovered from the virus that kept him out of England’s games against Ireland and Finland and wideman Savio will face a late fitness test on his knee injury.

However, the biggest problem of the international week for the Cityzens was the sight of defender Nathan Ake leaving the field on a stretcher during the Netherlands’ Nations League game against Germany.

He looks set to be out for some time and could join broken-leg victim Oscar Bobb on the long-term injury list.

Midfielder Rodri has yet to be seen in a City shirt this season, but he featured for an hour in Spain’s 4-1 win over Switzerland on Sunday, so he could make an appearance even if he doesn’t start.

Josh DaSilva and Rico Henry are out with knee injuries for Brentford, but hopes are high that full-back Kristoffer Ajer will have recovered from the ankle injury that forced him off before half-time in the win over Southampton.

Meanwhile, Aaron Hickey (hamstring) and Igor Thiago (knee) are both out long-term.

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