Game Week 7 Predictions: Manchester City to win at Brentford

Preview: Brentford vs Man City at G-Tech. Bees eye Utd repeat amid turmoil; Haaland fires City in Arsenal chase. Verdict: Straight City win.

Manchester City needs a win to move closer to the top of the log, they cannot afford to drop points at Brentford. (Photo credit: Opta)

 Brentford vs Manchester City

G-Tech Community Stadium

4:30pm

The last fixture in the Premier League before the latest instalment of the international break takes us to Brentford’s home, the ground where the Bees took out Manchester United last weekend.

It’s a huge opportunity for Keith Andrews to repeat the performance of last weekend, where the Bees went through Manchester United’s midfield like a hot knife through margarine. Will the midfield of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders allow them?

Everyone expects Brentford to struggle. It’s not easy to lose a pair that scored 39 goals upfront, lose your captain and your manager only to replace the latter with a set-piece coach; the Bees have been predicted to go down this season, and they’re doing their best to prove bookmakers wrong.

Manchester City dropped points in the Champions League on Wednesday, settling for a 2-2 draw with Monaco. It’s not the end of the world; however, they don’t want to find themselves struggling in the playoffs like they did last season.

In the league, Erling Haaland has been the one firing the former champions to all things good. Scoring freely and leading the charge from the front. How will the Brentford defence cope with the Norwegian’s strength in this one?

Brentford has enjoyed good results against Manchester City in the past, but the majority of the guys who impacted those games are no longer at the club, and it’s an opportunity for the new lads to etch their names in the loins of Brentford history.

Pep Guardiola would look at Saturday's results as motivation. Liverpool’s form continues to sink as they lost at Stamford Bridge, sending Arsenal to the top of the log, and a win for the former champions at Brentford cuts Arsenal’s advantage over them to three points.

Haaland is the man to watch; his brace against Burnley will be fresh in the minds of everyone at Brentford, while a certain Phil Foden particularly enjoys this fixture. Trust Guardiola to feed the Bees to Foden as he hopes to continue his rich vein of form.

Igor Tiago, who had a filled day against United, is one to watch again. Django Outtara didn’t do a lot against United, but his pace could trouble City’s defence, while Kevin Schade’s movement could also have a part to play.

Both sides would relish a win, but the hosts won’t mind a draw, as it represents four points off the mighty Manchester clubs, but for the Cityzens, anything short of a win is disastrous, as it hands Arsenal a huge advantage. City must win to keep things interesting at the top.

Verdict: Straight win for Manchester City.