Premier League footy returns after the October international break, and Manchester United’s first test comes in the form of a home game against Thomas Frank’s Brentford. The Red Devils will be looking to end a five-game winless run across all competitions and ease the pressure on under-fire Dutch gaffer EriK Ten Hag.
Things have gone pear-shaped for United since their 7-0 hammering of Barnsley in the League Cup last month, with four draws and a defeat in their next five games. Three of those five fixtures were league ones and United fired blanks in each one of them (0-0 stalemates v Crystal Palace & Aston Villa and an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Spurs at Old Trafford)
The Red Devils have scored just five goals in seven league games this season while Brentford, their opponents for this GW8 clash, put five past Wolves in their last game before the international break.
Despite United’s recent struggles, they will start favourites against the Bees this weekend, as seen by the odds at Bet442. United have an excellent home record against Brentford- the last time the Bees claimed an away triumph at Old Trafford was way back in 1937. Thomas Frank’s men have also lost all three of their league games on the road so far this campaign.
The Bees are 11th in the table but have also faced some tough opponents, having done battle against the likes of Liverpool, Man City and Spurs in this period. United are 14th, with two points separating the teams in the league standings. A win for the hosts this weekend will see them leapfrog their opponents in the table.
One of Ten Hag’s earliest games in charge of United saw them lose 4-0 away to the Bees, but they did manage to beat them 2-1 and 1-0 at Old Trafford in the next two meetings. The last game between the two sides (at the Community Stadium) was a dramatic one- United thought they had snatched victory at the death through Mason Mount, only for Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer to score a 99th minute equaliser for the Bees.
Mount will however be unable for this clash- he joins a long list of absentees for the Red Devils that also includes the likes of Tyrell Malacia, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo. United are also sweating on the fitness of Manuel Ugarte, who picked up a knock on international duty with Uruguay. Should the medio not be fit, Ten Hag may be forced to go with the trio of Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno in midfield.
On the positive side, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho appear to be recovering from the injuries that prevented them from linking up with their respective countries during the international break.
For Brentford, Yoane Wissa has been recovering well from his ankle injury and could potentially feature this weekend. The visitors are also expected to have both Christian Norgaard and Mikkel Damsgaard fit after the duo didn’t feature for Denmark due to precautionary reasons.
United v Brentford (3pm kickoff- Week 8). Referee is Sam Barrott, who was also in charge of Brentford’s 2-1 win over Palace earlier this season, but hasn’t refereed the Red Devils.