Manchester City vs Brentford: Preview, time and team news

How to watch From abroad or while travelling

UK-based streaming services are generally restricted when accessed from outside the country, which can make it difficult to follow matches while travelling. One practical solution is to use a Chrome VPN extension, which allows users to connect through a UK location directly from their browser. This type of setup is particularly convenient as it requires no complex installation and works seamlessly within Chrome.

Tools like this are designed with ease of use in mind, offering quick activation and stable connections that help maintain consistent streaming quality. For football fans on the move, it provides a simple way to stay connected to familiar platforms such as Sky Go without interruption. It’s especially useful for short trips or temporary travel, where maintaining access to UK services can otherwise be frustrating. When used responsibly, a VPN solution like this can enhance flexibility and ensure you don’t miss key moments during an important stage of the season.

Team news and predicted line-ups

Both squads could be dealing with fitness issues at this stage, and rotation is always a possibility this deep into the season.

Manchester City: injuries and suspensions

Guardiola will likely still be managing minutes for certain players as the run-in continues. Long-term absentees aside, minor knocks could influence who starts, especially in midfield and at the back, while Rodri could return from his latest injury setback.

Brentford: injuries and suspensions

Keith Andrews will be hoping his key players come through the week intact. Brentford have had to navigate injury problems throughout the campaign, and squad depth may once again be a factor here.

Predicted Starting Line-ups

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri; Semenyo, Cherki, Silva, Doku; Haaland

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago

Match preview: What’s at stake?

With only a handful of games left, this one carries real weight. City handed the advantage in the title race to Arsenal by drawing with Everton on Monday. Brentford, for their part, have plenty of motivation to secure European qualification.

Haaland is the obvious focal point for City in attack, with Cherki and Bernardo Silva providing the creativity to unlock deeper defences. Brentford lean heavily on the pace and directness of Schade and Ouatarra up front, while Damsgaard continues to be their most inventive presence in the middle of the pitch.

It’s worth noting that Brentford’s compact defensive shape and ability to hit teams on the counter has caused serious problems for bigger sides before. Don’t expect them to sit back and absorb pressure passively.

Head-to-head record

These two have produced some tighter games than you might expect. City hold the better overall record, but Brentford have shown on more than one occasion that they’re capable of taking points from top-six opposition when the conditions suit them.

Prediction

City’s quality at home should give them the edge here. That said, Brentford’s defensive structure and the threat they carry going forward make this a tricky fixture rather than a comfortable afternoon. A lapse in concentration at any point could shift momentum quickly, and at this stage of the season there’s no margin for complacency. Individual brilliance might settle it, but consistency across ninety minutes will matter just as much.