Manchester United will face Brentford at Old Trafford on Saturday, hoping to secure their first victory in five matches across all competitions. The two teams last met in March, playing to a 1-1 draw with both sides scoring in injury time. For Erik ten Hag, this is a critical moment as his team has suffered its worst-ever Premier League start, managing only two wins from seven matches. Despite rumors about Ten Hag’s future after a tense executive meeting, the club’s leadership has chosen to stay silent, allowing him more time to turn things around.
United’s poor form leaves them sitting in 14th place in the Premier League, closer to relegation than a top-four spot, and already 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool. Their recent run of form has been bleak, with no wins in five matches, including a disappointing 0-0 draw against Aston Villa before the international break. However, United fans can look to the positive, as they’ve won their last five home matches against Brentford by a combined score of 13-2, with their last home defeat to the Bees dating back to 1937.
On the other hand, Brentford has been quick off the mark in recent matches, scoring in the first 80 seconds of each of their last four games. Despite this, they haven’t capitalized on their fast starts against stronger teams like Manchester City and Tottenham, but they did beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-3 before the international break. All of Brentford’s points this season have come at home, and they sit in 11th place in the league, two points ahead of Manchester United. Still, their away form has been woeful, with losses against top teams like Liverpool and Manchester City. If Brentford loses at Old Trafford, it would be their fourth consecutive away defeat in the Premier League this season, a streak they haven’t matched since the 1961-62 season.
As for team news, Manchester United will be missing key players. Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire are out for several weeks due to muscle injuries, while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia remain sidelined. Manuel Ugarte’s availability is uncertain following a knock on international duty, but there is some optimism as Noussair Mazraoui, Alejandro Garnacho, and Amad Diallo have all returned to training. Ten Hag could opt for a defensive reshuffle, possibly bringing Jonny Evans and Matthijs de Ligt into the lineup.
Brentford, meanwhile, are dealing with their own injury problems. Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva, and Igor Thiago remain unavailable, and Mathias Jensen may not recover in time for the match. However, Yoane Wissa has returned to training after an ankle injury, and Brentford manager Thomas Frank may decide to reintroduce him into the squad. Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford’s top scorer this season with six goals, will continue to lead the attack.
Both teams are struggling defensively, and with key players out, this match could see plenty of goals. Given their recent form, a high-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome.
