How Man City should lineup vs Brentford in premier League fixture
Manchester City play travel to Brentford as their Premier League schedule continues
Manchester City head south tonight for the next stop on their Premier League schedule. The Blues will take on Brentford in a match that is a must-win as the try to pile the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
While the Bees are struggling this season, sitting uncomfortably close to the relegation zone going into this round of matches, they remarkably managed to do the double against City last season, beating them 2-1 at the Etihad and 1-0 at home, although that second fixture came after City had clinched the title.
With Pep Guardiola not wanting a repeat of that statistic, he will have a full-strength squad to choose from for the first time all season. Manu Akanji has recovered from his injury, and Erling Haaland – who returned from the substitutes bench vs Burnley last week, could be in line for his first start since early December.
Read how our writers think City should line up below and use the interactive team selector to pick your best starting XI to take on Brentford:
Simon Bajkowski
Is this the game to bring back Erling Haaland? Julian Alvarez got two against Burnley and this will be a difficult test, but you’d have to go with Haaland if he is fit enough.
As Guardiola said on Friday, when his No.9 came off the bench in midweek everybody looked to him. He had such a hunger for goal that it is hard to see him not getting (and taking) chances with more time on the pitch.
Otherwise, you would expect Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker to come back in for this one. Josko Gvardiol slipped up for the Burnley goal and that should probably mean he sits this one out.
Jack Grealish hasn’t started for nearly a month and his control could be important as City look to avoid speedy Brentford counters.
Possible XI
Tyrone Marshall
Guardiola won’t know what to do with himself as he surveys his fully-fit squad for the trip to the capital and decides who to select. It is unprecedented this season to have everyone available and fit to play.
That doesn’t mean the strongest team will play. In defence, Walker can come back in alongside Stones, while Dias can also return with Gvardiol on the left. A strong defence will be needed to tame Ivan Toney.
Rodri is a certain starter but Matheus Nunes played 90 minutes against Burnley, so I would bring Bernardo in alongside him in midfield, while Kevin De Bruyne can start again. Haaland can be handled with care, which means more minutes off the bench, so Alvarez can play in attack, with Phil Foden on the right and Grealish on the left.
Possible XI
George Smith
If Haaland doesn’t return against Brentford, when will he? After stepping off the bench against Burnley, it is hard to imagine him not being recalled to the starting XI in the capital.
Though Alvarez scored twice against the Clarets, Haaland remains City’s senior striker and is still Guardiola’s main man. His inclusion could mean a tactical reshuffle, with Alvarez dropping slightly deeper and playing behind the Norwegian.
That could result in De Bruyne playing slightly deeper, but he would still be able to get forward because of Rodri’s presence in the defensive-midfield berth. Grealish will be targeting a return to the starting line-up after starting among the substitutes against Burnley.
As for the defence, Walker and Dias should return after being granted rests against the Clarets. A trip to Brentford is never easy and City need their best defenders on the pitch.
Leave a Reply