📰 Table Of Contents
Match Preview
Pep Guardiola has been hesitant to say “Manchester City are back” despite winning their last three games but a win away to Brentford would surely leave him no choice.
Speaking ahead of the game he said: “We won three games. Before it was impossible to win one!
“Now we won three, and that helps us. But, the reality is we won against a team in the last game for the difference of the Premier League and League Two, the badges of both teams, and many reasons we should win.
“We have to wait to see if we are who we are. The mood is better. Tomorrow we have an enormously difficult game. With what happened in the last seasons it is always team who create a lot of problems. They have been a long long time with Thomas [Frank].
“They are a fantastic team but at the same time we know what we are playing for.”
The Bees have one of the best home records in the Premier League but welcoming the champions is never an easy task.
Nonetheless, a win for Thomas Frank’s side will take them to up to ninth depending on other results.
On the flip side, a win for City could lift them into the top four and potentially only three points off second place.
PEP 💬 Of course, we won three games. Before it was impossible to win one and now we won three. That helps us… The mood is better. We have an enormously difficult game [against Brentford]. Thomas [Frank] and his team always create a lot of problems. They are a fantastic,… pic.twitter.com/Uc02SWKDgx
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 13, 2025
Team News
Frank confirmed that Ben Mee and Rico Henry are back and available for the home side, but they remain without midfielders Christian Norgaard and Vitaly Janelt.
Guardiola admitted he will make a decision on Kyle Walker’s involvement on Monday afternoon, with the defender looking to leave the club this month.
Expected line-ups
Brentford: Flekken, Roeslev, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter, Jensen, Norgaard, Damsgaard, Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade
Man City: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Savinho, Haaland
How to watch on TV
Kick-off is at 19:30 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ commencing at 18:30.
The Stats
- In 12 of the last 14 Brentford home matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Brentford have won 6 of the last 8 home matches and the sum of goals was over 4.5
- In 9 of the last 11 Brentford home matches the sum of goals was over 3.5
- In 6 of the last 8 Brentford home matches the sum of goals was over 4.5
- Brentford have won 6 of the last 8 home matches while scoring more than 2.5 goals
- Manchester City have lost 7 of the last 9 away matches while scoring less than 1.5 goals
- In 9 of the last 11 Manchester City away matches in the Premier League, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 8 of the last 10 Manchester City away matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 7 of the last 9 Manchester City matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 5 of the last 7 Manchester City matches in the Premier League, the sum of goals was over 2.5
Prediction
Brentford have proved to be a thorn in City’s side before, but it is hard to picture anything but a win for the champions here.
With Erling Haaland back firing and Kevin de Bruyne getting regular minutes again, City are slowly on their way back to their best.
But do not count the Bees out completely. With Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo in the team, there is no reason why the hosts cannot nick a goal or two.
Our prediction: Brentford 1-2 Man City
