Match Preview: Brentford vs Manchester United

Brentford vs Manchester United | Premier League | Old Trafford | KO: 20:00 GMT | BT Sport

Manchester United are in desperate need of a lot at the moment. They could do with some clean sheets, a good performance that extends past the first half an hour and a genuine feel-good factor. The club could also do with a competent defensive midfielder but that’s a discussion for another day. Currently, the Reds are in desperate need of points.

Despite the performance against Aston Villa being marginally better than recent outings, Rangnick’s reds failed to see out the game and drew after a two-goal advantage. Top four seems to be slipping away with every sloppy pass and conceded chance. However, the fixture rescheduling means United now have the opportunity to face Brentford after the match was postponed in December.

United get their first taste of the newly promoted Bees in the Premier League as the Reds travel to West London, still in search of their first league win in 2022.

How do Manchester United look?

What a time it is to be alive and supporting Manchester United. Every single day the club manages to throw a headline our way, each more scandalous than the last.

In the fallout from United’s last game, fans had to pick sides as to who they believed between Anthony Martial and Ralf Rangnick. The latter suggested Martial had refused to be involved vs Aston Villa while the Frenchman was quick to defend himself on social media.

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The 26-year-old took to Instagram to say:

“I will never refuse to play a match for Man United. I’ve been here for 7 years and I never disrespected and never will disrespect the club and the Fans”

Rangnick used his press conference to diffuse an obviously bizarre situation:

“I had a conversation with him on Sunday, and also a conversation about what happened and how I saw the whole situation.” The German told Press.

“The matter is now resolved. He didn’t train yesterday and the day before yesterday. He will probably train today, and after training, I will then take the decision if he is nominated or not. Let’s see what will happen.”

As for actual team news, Paul Pogba returned to training and posed in the “winning team” alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford. Ronaldo and Rashford both missed United’s trip to Villa with niggles but could be in contention to return to the squad for Brentford. Harry Maguire is another likely to be back involved. Pogba on the other hand is still a short while away from fully returning to fitness.

Luke Shaw and Scott Mctominay are set to return after serving their one-match suspensions.

Opposition: Brentford

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The Bees stole the hearts and miss of the Premier League as they beat Arsenal on the opening day. Brentford have kept the same spirit they displayed on that night, sticking to their guns in terms of their progressive style. Thomas Frank has spearheaded a side that prides themselves on playing without fear.

Saying that their progressive style has indeed seen them concede seven in their last two games, including a 4-1 thrashing vs Southampton. Brentford will always remain a threat with the likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo but they can be exploited for a lacking defence.

Key Stats

This will be the first league meeting between the sides since 1947.

Manchester United have lost seven of 22 games against newly-promoted sides dating back to September 2014.

United have won 61% of their games played on a Wednesday – the most of any side on this specific day that have played in more than one Premier League campaign.

Prediction

If United can extend the performance they showed early on vs Villa, they could be in for a treat against a fragile Brentford defence. However, on the flip side, should they fail to create, Rangnick’s men could be in trouble.

As with most sides in the division, United boast too much quality to predict a loss.

Brentford 1-3 Manchester United