Manchester United vs Brentford FC
Fourth plays seventh when Premier League: Manchester United vs Brentford is the entertainment on offer as we have a full midweek programme of football in England’s top flight.
The Red Devils come into the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat to top four rivals Newcastle United, while Brentford played out a pulsating 3-3 draw with fellow European hopefuls Brighton. Seventh place may well win a Europa League spot and the Bees have hovered around that position for much of the season, but with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Fulham in pursuit Thomas Frank’s team needs to hit a spectacular run of form to hold off the fierce competition.
His opposite number Erik Ten Hag has improved the Red Devils hugely since the start of the campaign and he, as much as anyone, is looking to avenge a 4-0 spanking his team took at the hands of Brentford back in August. And that extra spice makes this a fascinating prospect, and fans of fifth-placed Spurs and third-placed Newcastle will be watching the Manchester United vs Brentford updates with interest.
Talking Points
Red Devils’cutting edge needs sharpening
At a SBOTOP price of 1.57 to win, the hosts are under a little pressure in this game and they’ll need to perform considerably better than they did against the Magpies on Sunday. Manchester United’s trip to Newcastle was never going to be easy but they never really tested their hosts who were dominant throughout and, after he had missed two sitters, Joe Willock punished the Red Devils and Callum Wilson confirmed the win with a late header.
Ten Hag said his team’s performance was simply not good enough, lacking the determination and desire in their hosts, and they got what they deserved. Some of the stats are damning: Newcastle had 22 shots to six and six to one on target as the visitors failed to test Nick Pope; and this was the first time they failed to have a first half shot on target in this campaign. And now Manchester United have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in three years.
Newcastle star Bruno Guimares dominated the midfield, as the Red Devils were again without the suspended Casemiro, and he won the man-of-the-match. Ten Hag’s team needs to get the upper hand on the Bees midfield but then, when the strikers get space they need to be clinical. Marcus Rashford has been superb this season, but neither he nor Wout Weghorst gave the Magpies defence anything to worry about. And without the injured top assist maker Christian Eriksen and midfield lynchpin Casemiro the Red Devils looked short of ideas.
Brentford’s multiple threats
In contrast the Bees have been buzzing and they scored freely again in an entertaining tussle with Brighton. Bryan Mbeumo didn’t score but he made two assists as his team went ahead three times through Pontus Jansson, top scorer Ivan Toney and centre back Ethan Pinnock, but a late penalty from World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister earned the Seagulls a deserved point.
The Manchester United vs Brentford betting odds say this is a tough task for the Bees, but if Toney gets a chance he will add to his 17 goals this season. Only Erling Braut Haaland and Harry Kane have scored more and Toney is one of the best penalty takers in the business. But the Bees goals come from all over the pitch. Pinnock’s defensive partner Ben Mee is a threat at set pieces, while the Danish pair of Christian Norgaard and Mikkel Damsgaard are superb attacking midfielders.
Sure; Manchester United want revenge but if they are off their game they could easily get stung again.
History
Manchester United have won two of their four previous meetings with Brentford, drawing one and famously taking that 4-0 hammering at the beginning of this campaign. Toney made two assists that day but he wasn’t on the score-sheet as the Bees had four different scorers.
Recent form is pretty close with Manchester United winning three, drawing one and losing two of the last six games, while Brentford have won two, drawn two and lost two.
Betting Tip
Manchester United’s home record of nine wins, three draws and one defeat is strong but there is some mileage in a draw at 3.73 and the Bees, at odds of 4.55 will believe they have a fighting chance. Frank’s men have lost just four times on the road, winning three and drawing six.
United are weaker without Casemiro for sure, but 2-1 to the hosts is the most likely score line at odds on 6.37, but the visitors will fancy themselves for a 1-1 draw at a price of 6.76.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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