Man City vs Brentford Premier League preview, team news and prediction

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With their Premier League title challenge taking a hit, Manchester City will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday evening as they host European hopefuls Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. City have already got the better of the Bees twice this season, winning 1-0 in the league earlier in the campaign before claiming a 2-0 EFL Cup fifth-round victory in December.

No surprises with the bookies who they have as the favourite as City go into this at 1/3 with BetGoodwin to secure a win while Brentford are 6/1 with Sky Bet and a draw is 17/4 with William Hill . You can also find more betting offers at the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers .

Pep Guardiola’s side surrendered a six-match winning run in all competitions on Monday by drawing 3-3 away to Everton, a result that left Arsenal in control of the title race. City led at the break but were rocked by three goals in a 12-minute spell after half-time, only to fight back through Erling Haaland’s 25th league goal of the season and a 96th-minute strike from Jeremy Doku, who had also scored the opener.

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City have now dropped 12 Premier League points from winning positions since the turn of the year — the joint-most in the league — and Guardiola has admitted the title is no longer in their hands. They trail leaders Arsenal by five points with four games to go, although victory on Saturday would cut the gap to two ahead of Arsenal’s trip to West Ham on Sunday.

A return home may help: City are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League matches at the Etihad with just three draws and scoring at least twice in 13 of those games since an August defeat by Tottenham.

Although City have won eight of the last 11 meetings between the sides in all competitions, the contests are often close. Every City win over Brentford since 1997 has been by two goals or less, with five decided by a single goal, including October’s 1-0 victory.

Brentford, meanwhile, revived their European push with a 3-0 win over West Ham last weekend, ending a six-game winless streak . Keith Andrews’ side were forced to ride their luck at times as the Hammers struck the woodwork three times, but the Bees held firm to secure their first home win since January.

Back up to seventh, Brentford sit one point behind sixth-placed Bournemouth and only three clear of 11th-placed Fulham, ensuring the battle for Europe remains tight. They have made a habit of late goals, with only Liverpool scoring more in the final 15 minutes this season than Brentford’s 18, although City have conceded the fewest in that period.

The Bees lost 2-1 at Manchester United in their latest away trip and have now been beaten in nine of 17 Premier League games on the road this season. Only Fulham, Wolves and Burnley have suffered more away defeats. Brentford have also lost three of their last four league visits to City, though fans will remember the 2-1 Etihad win in November 2022 when Ivan Toney struck twice.

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Man City are set to be without Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Ruben Dias (ankle) again, while Rodri is a doubt after a groin issue. Pep Guardiola is unlikely to rotate much, though Rayan Ait-Nouri could return at left-back, pushing Nico O’Reilly into midfield at Nico Gonzalez’s expense, while Mateo Kovacic is also in contention to start. Erling Haaland should lead the line against a Brentford side he has four goals in six games against, supported by Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki and in-form Jeremy Doku.

Brentford remain without Antoni Milambo and Fabio Carvalho (knee), with Jordon Henderson and Rico Henry to be assessed. Thomas Andrews may keep changes minimal, but Kevin Schade’s eight-game goal drought puts him under threat; Keane Lewis-Potter could move into attack if he drops out, with Henry (if fit) or Aaron Hickey at left-back. Igor Thiago, now on 22 league goals, will look to end a three-game away scoring run, with Jensen, Yarmolyuk and Damsgaard likely to continue in midfield despite Janelt and Dasilva returning.

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