4 weeks ago
22
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Here’s a message from Mary:
“Xaymaca, greetings from California. The world is going to shite. I should be despondent. But Everton is seventh in the table and I can’t wipe the smile off my face. Shallow escapism? Yes. So be it.”
Be sure to check out Andy Hunter’s Everton v Crystal Palace match report.
On those teams
Jordan Henderson has earned a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad again as we head into the international break. It’s a decision that would have raised eyebrows a couple of months but seems entirely justified based on the midfielder’s recent form. Hendo’s defence splitting through ball for Igor Thiago last week was a thing of beauty.
His counterpart Phil Foden misses out despite his rich vein of form. Pep Guardiola said: “If he [Foden] keeps on playing like he is, then he will be back [in the England squad].” He’s scored six goals in three games against Brentford at the Gtech Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Manchester City manager himself said of their first few games of the season:
“The improvement can be better, reading what the opponent does, spaces to attack, the feeling we’re creating again, the tempo and pace that’s really good and attack more fluid and more consistently, we can do some movements that we can do better, and I love that.”
On the eve of a potentially historic result for Pep Guardiola, the Brentford manager Keith Andrews reflected on the Manchester City manager’s legacy:
“He’s probably been the best manager of the last 15 years, in the modern era; the way he’s coached the game, the way he’s changed the way the game is perceived and played at different clubs and in different countries.”
The teams
Brentford: Kelleher, Collins, van den Berg, Ajer, Kayode, Damsgaard, Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Hickey, Schade, Thiago
Subs: Carvalho, Henry, Janelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Onyeka, Ouattara, Pinnock, Valdimarsson
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Savinho, Reijnders, Foden, Bobb, Haaland
Subs: Aké, Cherki, Doku, González, Kovačić, Lewis, Silva, Stones, Trafford
Preamble
Hello and welcome to minute-by-minute coverage of this Premier League game between Brentford and Manchester City at the Gtech Stadium. Today’s match is the battle of the No 9s.
In the red corner is Igor Thiago. Up until Antoine Semenyo’s heroics against Fulham on Friday, the Brazilian was the joint-second highest scorer in the league with four goals in six games. He’s remarkably efficient with a 40% goal conversion rate, as his first goal against Manchester United highlighted.
In the blue corner is Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has been Manchester City’s brightest spark this season. He’s scored 17 goals in 10 games for club and country and is once again doing Haaland things. He’s never scored at the Gtech before though so he’ll be keen to break his duck.
A win for Keith Andrew’s side would make it back to back wins against the two Manchester teams. For Pep Guardiola, today is a chance to record a 250th Premier League win as Manchester City manager. A win would make him the fastest manager to achieve such a feat with one Premier League club.
Kick off is at 4:30pm. Send me your questions and comments via email.
