Manchester City will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome a struggling Brentford to Etihad for an important league fixture on Wednesday night with kickoff at 22:45.
Manchester City have made a fine campaign in defence of their Premier League title as they are leading in the title race this season with nine points in the clear although they have played one match more than the second-placed Liverpool.
However, a 1-1 draw at Southampton before the winter break in their previous Premier league fixture has made the title race somewhat more interesting and thus Pep Guardiola’s men will do well to avoid another slip-up in the Wednesday’s clash.
The champions though will fancy their chances in the match as they are coming into the match in high spirits following their thoroughly dominant performance against Fulham in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the weekend, with Riyad Mahrez striking a brace while Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones scored a piece as the Citizens beat the Cottagers 4-1.
Also City are in a good home form as they have won all of their last nine home matches since the famous defeat to Crystal Palace in October and they will want to maintain that run in this match.
Meanwhile Brentford had a fine start to life back in the Premier League with club displaying prospects of a great addition of to the English top-tier. However, the Bees seem to have lost their mojo and have been in awful form in the recent weeks as Thomas Frank’s side has only won one of their last eight Premier League matches, suffering defeats in the other seven matches and are coming off a five-match losing streak across all competitions.
The run has seen Brentford slide down the table into the 14th after collecting 23 points from their 23 matches and are eight points above the relegation zone. The Bees have played more games that all the teams below them and another loss on Wednesday could leave them in the relegation dugout.
Man City vs Brentford head to head
This will be the second recent meeting between the two sides with Man City claiming a 1-0 away win in the first encounter. Take a look at their previous results.
Home
- Man City 4-1 Fulham
- Southampton 1-1 Man City
- Man City 1-0 Chelsea
- Swindon 1-4 Man City
- Arsenal 1-2 Man City
Away
- Everton 4-1 Brentford
- Brentford 1-2 Wolves
- Brentford 1-3 Man United
- Liverpool 3-0 Brentford
- Southampton 4-1 Brentford
Man City team news
Man City only have Cole Palmer and Gabriel Jesus as the only fitness concerns but Jesus maybe fit enough for a place on the bench.
Brentford team news
Brentford will be without Mathias Jorgensen, Tarique Fosu and Julian Jeanvier through injuries while new signing Christian Eriksen is highly unlikely to be given the green light to play just yet.
Prediction and odds
- Manchester City win
- Goals over 2.5
- Both sides to score (no)
