Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways as they host Brentford at Old Trafford for a Premier League fixture on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils find themselves in the middle of a difficult run, failing to secure a win in their last five matches across all competitions. Brentford, meanwhile, arrives in Manchester eager to build on their recent positive performance and exploit United’s vulnerabilities.
This encounter will mark the first meeting between the two sides since their thrilling 1-1 draw back in March. On that occasion, Mason Mount’s 96th-minute strike gave United the lead, only for Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer to equalize in dramatic fashion in the 99th minute at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Manchester United: A Season Hanging by a Thread
Manager Erik ten Hag continues to battle mounting pressure after Manchester United’s disastrous start to the season. With only two wins from their first seven Premier League games, the Red Devils sit 14th in the table, accumulating just eight points so far. The team finds itself much closer to the relegation zone than the top four, with an alarming 10-point gap separating them from league leaders Liverpool.
The club recently held a seven-hour meeting with its leadership, including key figures such as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer. However, the hierarchy has chosen not to publicly comment on Ten Hag’s future. Regardless, the Dutchman’s position remains under the microscope, and his ability to turn things around quickly will be crucial if United hopes to salvage their season.
United’s last victory came in mid-September, when they demolished Barnsley 7-0 in the EFL Cup. However, since then, they’ve struggled, recording a goalless draw with Aston Villa before the international break and failing to secure wins in four other matches across competitions.
Though the form at Old Trafford this season has been unconvincing, the team can draw confidence from its historical dominance over Brentford. United has won each of their last five home league meetings against the Bees, with a combined score of 13-2. Remarkably, Brentford has not beaten United at Old Trafford since 1937, a record the Red Devils hope to extend on Saturday.
Brentford: Searching for Consistency on the Road
Under the guidance of manager Thomas Frank, Brentford has become known for their fast starts this season. The Bees have remarkably opened the scoring within the first 80 seconds in their last four matches. Despite this promising trend, they’ve only managed to convert one of these fast starts into victory – a thrilling 5-3 triumph over Wolves just before the international break.
Brentford currently sits 11th in the table with 10 points, two ahead of United. However, the team has struggled to replicate its home form on the road, having lost all three of their Premier League away matches so far. Those defeats came against high-profile opposition in Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur. As they prepare to face United at Old Trafford, Brentford hopes to avoid losing their first four away games in a league campaign for the first time since 1961-62, a season in which they ultimately suffered nine consecutive road defeats as a third-tier club.
History is not on Brentford’s side in this fixture. They have managed only one victory in their last 10 meetings with Manchester United in all competitions, suffering seven defeats and conceding 24 goals in the process. Despite this, Frank’s side will aim to exploit United’s fragility and extend their opponent’s poor run of form.
Team News and Injury Updates
Manchester United continues to deal with multiple injury issues ahead of this weekend’s match. Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire are ruled out for a few weeks due to muscle problems, while defenders Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, and Leny Yoro remain sidelined as they recover from injuries.
Manuel Ugarte, who suffered a knock while on international duty with Uruguay, undertook light recovery training on Thursday, and his availability will be determined closer to kickoff. Additionally, Mason Mount picked up a knock, though the midfielder could still be in contention for selection.
In more positive news, Noussair Mazraoui, Alejandro Garnacho, and Amad Diallo have returned to full training. Mazraoui, in particular, has made good progress after undergoing a procedure to manage heart palpitations, and all three players could feature on Saturday.
Erik ten Hag may consider tactical changes in defense, with Jonny Evans possibly slotting in at left-back while Diogo Dalot shifts to his preferred right-back position. Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are both likely candidates to start at center-back, providing much-needed stability to United’s backline.
Brentford, on the other hand, remains without several key players due to injuries. Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva, and Igor Thiago are all sidelined with knee issues, while Aaron Hickey is out with a thigh injury. The match also comes too soon for Mathias Jensen, who is recovering from a calf problem.
Thomas Frank may have to make late decisions on the availability of Yoane Wissa, Mikkel Damsgaard, and Christian Norgaard. Wissa, who has missed the last four games with an ankle injury, has returned to training and could be included in the squad. Damsgaard and Norgaard will also undergo fitness assessments after missing Denmark’s recent international fixtures.
Frank could deploy a three-man defense, with Sepp van den Berg, Ethan Pinnock, and Nathan Collins forming the core. Kristoffer Ajer and Keane Lewis-Potter might take on wing-back roles to add width and defensive cover. In attack, Bryan Mbeumo – who has scored six goals in seven league appearances this season – will be the key threat for the visitors, potentially partnering with Wissa, Kevin Schade, or Fabio Carvalho.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Evans; Eriksen, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
Brentford:
Formation: 3-5-2
Flekken; Van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock; Ajer, Damsgaard, Norgaard, Janelt, Lewis-Potter; Schade, Mbeumo
Match Prediction
Both teams enter this contest with points to prove. Manchester United will be desperate to end their winless streak and alleviate the mounting pressure on Ten Hag, while Brentford aims to improve their poor away form.
United’s inconsistency in front of goal and defensive fragility will give Brentford some hope, especially with Mbeumo in fine form. However, Old Trafford remains a challenging venue for visiting teams, and the Red Devils will be motivated to get back on track in front of their home crowd.
A tight match is expected, with both sides creating opportunities. Given Brentford’s fast starts, an early goal from the visitors is possible, but United’s experience and quality might eventually tilt the match in their favor.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
