Manchester City will endeavour to preserve their perfect start to the 2024-25 campaign when they welcome Brentford to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since February when the Citizens secured a slender 1-0 home victory courtesy of a second-half strike from Erling Haaland.
Match preview
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Man City went into the international break sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table, after seeing off Chelsea, Ipswich Town and most recently West Ham United in their opening three matches of the 2024-25 campaign.
A 2-0 away victory over Chelsea on the opening weekend was followed by 4-1 and 3-1 wins against Ipswich Town and West Ham respectively, with goal machine Haaland netting seven times across those matches, including back-to-back hat-tricks, to help the Citizens conclude the month of August with a 100% record.
Pep Guardiola's men have now won each of their last 12 top-flight games by two or more goals - a Premier League record - and they head into Saturday's contest seeking to win their first four fixtures of a new top-flight season for a ninth time - doing just that would see them extend their own record.
Man City will fancy their chances of success this weekend as they boast an exceptional 45-game unbeaten run at the Etihad Stadium across all competitions (W38 D7), scoring 133 goals and conceding only 32 in the process.
However, the last team to beat the Citizens on their own turf in 90 minutes was none other than Brentford, who celebrated a surprise 2-1 league triumph in November 2022 courtesy of a brace from the now-departed Ivan Toney.
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Shortly after finalising his £40m transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, Toney was in attendance at the Gtech Community Stadium to watch Brentford beat newly-promoted Southampton 3-1 in their most recent Premier League match prior to the international break.
Bryan Mbeumo starred for the Bees with a superb brace, while Yoane Wissa also got his name on the scoresheet to help Thomas Frank's side claim their third victory in four matches across all competitions at the start of the new season.
Both Mbeumo and Wissa were also on target in Brentford's opening-weekend win over Crystal Palace, and with six points on the board - one point more than at this stage last season - the Bees sit sixth in the top-flight standings.
Only Liverpool (2-0 at Anfield) have beaten Brentford thus far and Frank's men are now gearing up for a tricky trip to another title hopeful in Man City with an away record that they are keen to rectify. Indeed, the Bees have lost more Premier League matches on the road (13) than any other team currently in the division since the start of last season.
Brentford have also lost each of their last five away league games against teams that finished the previous campaign in the top four, while they have only ever won two of their previous nine visits to Man City in all competitions, so the odds are firmly against the Bees putting a sting in the tail of the Citizens.
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Team News
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Man City are still having to cope without attacker Oscar Bobb (leg fracture), while Nathan Ake has been ruled out until after the next international break in mid-October after the defender was stretchered off with what looked to be a serious muscle injury while representing the Netherlands on Tuesday.
The absence of Ake should see Josko Gvardiol continue on the left side of a back four, while John Stones will be hoping to force his way into the first XI at the expense of either Manuel Akanji or Ruben Dias at centre-back.
Rico Lewis, meanwhile, may keep his spot in a hybrid right-back role having made a bright start to the new season, or switch to left-back - where he played for England on Tuesday - if Gvardiol is given a rest, allowing Kyle Walker to potentially start his first game of the season on the right.
Rodri, Phil Foden and Savinho have all taken part in training this week and should be in contention to start, while Guardiola has confirmed that Haaland - August's Premier League Player of the Month winner - is a doubt and could be granted compassionate leave as he mourns the loss of close family friend Ivar Eggja.
As for Brentford, Igor Thiago, Josh Dasilva (both knee) and Aaron Hickey (hamstring) remain in the treatment room, while Rico Henry picked up a minor knock over the international break - not related to the knee injury that has kept sidelined for just over 12 months - that prevented him from making his planned return in a friendly against Queens Park Rangers.
Frank has revealed that new signing Gustavo Nunes is ruled out for "weeks" with a minor stress fracture in his back, while Mathias Jensen will be sidelined for a "couple of weeks" with a calf problem.
On a positive note, Kristoffer Ajer has recovered from an ankle injury that he picked up against Southampton last time out, so he could link arms with Ethan Pinnock and Nathan Collins in a three-man backline, with Keane Lewis-Potter and Mads Roerslev potentially recalled to operate as wing-backs.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Savinho, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Collins, Pinnick, Ajer; Roerslev, Damsgaard, Norgaard, Janelt, Lewis-Potter; Mbeumo, Wissa
We say: Manchester City 3-1 Brentford
Brentford could cause Man City one or two problems in the final third through Mbeumo and Wissa, but it is difficult to back against Guardiola's men outscoring their opponents on this occasion.
Also taking into consideration their exceptional unbeaten home record, the league-leading Citizens have our vote to kick-start September with maximum points and continue their perfect start to the new season, even if Haaland is unavailable for selection.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
