Manchester City welcome Brentford this afternoon as they look to maintain their perfect start to the season, live on talkSPORT 2.
Pep Guardiola‘s men are looking for their fifth consecutive Premier League title and have looked imperious in the early stages of the campaign.
Erling Haaland has two hat-tricks just three matches into the season
Led by a very sharp Erling Haaland, the Citizens have scored ten goals and conceded just two in their first three top-flight fixtures.
The 24-year-old has scored over half of those and looks as good as ever after having the summer off due to Norway not qualifying for Euro 2024.
However, after the death of his father’s best friend, Ivar Eggja, who passed away on Wednesday, Haaland could miss out against Brentford due to compassionate leave.
Meanwhile, the Bees have also had a strong start, winning both of their home games.
Thomas Frank‘s side lost Ivan Toney to Saudi Arabia, but Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo have impressed up front.
Manchester City vs Brentford: Date and how to follow
This Premier League game is set to take place on Saturday, September 14.
Kick-off at the Etihad is schedlued for 3pm.
talkSPORT 2 will have live and EXCLUSIVE coverage from the blue half of Manchester, with Chris Latcham serving as your presenter.
Commentary will then come from Ian Danter and former Arsenal man Perry Groves.
talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date on our dedicated Premier League blog.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Brentford have managed just fine without ToneyGetty
Since the start of last season, Brentford have lost more Premier League away games (13) than any side currently in the competition. The Bees have also lost each of their last five away league games against sides that finished the previous season in the Premier League’s top four.
Manchester City have won each of their last 12 Premier League games, all by a margin of 2+ goals. Indeed, under Pep Guardiola alone, the Citizens are responsible for six of the 16 runs of 12+ consecutive wins by any clubs in English top-flight history (38%).
Brentford have won two of their three Premier League games this season (L1), their best start to a campaign in the competition. In the top-flight, only in 1946-47 have they ever won three of their opening four matches – but that was the only season they were relegated from this level.
Man City vs Brentford: Team news
Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Akanji, Lewis, Gundogan, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Grealish, Savinho, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Silva, McAtee, Nunes, Foden, Doku.
Brentford XI: Flekken, Ajer, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Collins, Norgaard, Janelt, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Wissa, Mbuemo.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Mee, Roerslev, Yarmoliuk, Konak, Trevitt, Carvalho, Maghoma, Schade.
Ake could be out for some timeAFP
Brentford are allowing their opponents on average 16.7 passes per defensive action (PPDA) in the Premier League this season, the highest figure of any side, and the Bees’ highest in any of their four Premier League seasons so far.
Erling Haaland has seven goals in the Premier League this season, the most ever by a player in a team’s first three matches of a campaign in the competition. The record in a team’s first four matches in a Premier League season is eight goals by Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2011-12.
Both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have scored in two of Brentford’s three Premier League games this season. Overall, the pair have scored in the same Premier League match 13 times, at least 10 more than any other duo for the Bees.
Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku has progressed the ball upfield 747.8m via ball carries in the Premier League this season, almost 300m more than any other player (Jan Paul van Hecke second with 457.3m). His 64 progressive carries are also a league-high, along with his 17 carries ending in a take-on.
Man City vs Brentford: What has been said?
Bees boss Frank was full of praise for City and Haaland at his pre-match press conference.
He said: “They are the best in the world.
“They are very, very good. We need to be good at defending, obviously, press high when we can, really neutralise their key players – they have many so it’s difficult – and then we need to be brave on the ball and keep it in phases.”
When asked about stopping Haaland, he said: “It’s close to impossible! A lot of teams have tried to neutralise him but he’s a great player.
“I think his movements in the box are some of the best we’ve ever seen: the way he anticipates the situation, the way he times the movements, he’s constantly focused, no matter where the ball is – it’s top level.”
