Manchester City vs Brentford Predictions

• Manchester City are on a 12-match unbeaten run in the Premier League
• The Citizens have won five of their last six meetings with Brentford
• Phil Foden has scored seven goals in eight league appearances against Brentford

City cannot afford any more slips

Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes took a major blow on Monday night as they were held to a 3-3 draw at Everton, but they can move back to within two points of leaders Arsenal, temporarily at least, with a home success over Brentford.

City did show plenty of battling spirit against Everton, coming from 3-1 down and snatching a point thanks to Jeremy Doku’s last-gasp equaliser, while that strike also extended their unbeaten run in the top flight to 12 games.

Eight of those matches have ended in victory and Pep Guardiola will expect his side to bounce back against a Brentford team that have caused them problems in the past, but City have won five of the last six meetings, two of which have come this season.

Bees still buzzing around European places

Anyone expecting a City backlash on Saturday may be left disappointed, as in nine previous Premier League meetings, the Citizens have never beaten Brentford by more than a two-goal margin.

That’s not to say City won’t score their fair share of goals – they average more than two-per-game at the Etihad Stadium this season – but Brentford are capable of getting on the scoresheet as well.

The Bees are still very much in the hunt for European qualification and they are fresh from putting three past West Ham last weekend, a match that saw leading scorer Igor Thiago grab his 22nd top-flight goal of the campaign – only City’s Erling Haaland has more.

Brentford have scored on two of their last three league visits to the Etihad and Keith Andrews will demand a positive performance from his side, but City should ultimately return to winning ways and a 3-1 correct score in favour of the Citizens appeals.

Foden could celebrate new deal in style

Phil Foden may not have played as much football as he would have liked over recent months, but he has agreed a new four-year contract with City and he could celebrate that news by getting on the scoresheet against an opponent he enjoys facing.

The England international has scored seven goals in eight previous top-flight outings against Brentford, an impressive tally that includes a hat-trick in a 3-1 City win at the Gtech Community Stadium in February 2024.

If Guardiola does choose to rotate his starting XI off the back of the draw with Everton, Foden is a prime candidate to come into the team, but even if he does have to make do with a place on the bench, he could still come on to have a decisive say.