Manchester United team news as Red Devils search for first league win of the season vs Brentford

Manchester United team news as Red Devils search for first league win of the season vs Brentford

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:09 PM
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  • Both Brentford and Manchester United failed to win their respective openers in the Premier League
  • The two sides face off at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday, August 13 in a late kick off
  • United are looking for their first competitive win under Erik Ten Hag with the help of former Brentford man Christian Eriksen

The Premier League is back again with the second round of matches in the 2022/ 23 campaign and one game to keep an eye on is the clash at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday, August 13.

Brentford host Manchester United in a game which the Red Devils will be desperate for all three points, having failed to collect any in their opener against Brighton a week earlier.

While neither side managed to win their respective games in matchday 1, it is Brentford who will go into the Saturday game with slightly more confidence as they came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Leicester City.

Eriksen, Man United, Brentford
Christian Eriksen of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on August 07, 2022. Photo by Michael Regan.
Source: Getty Images

One interesting subplot about the game is the fact that United’s Christian Eriksen is coming up against his former side, barely weeks after leaving The Bees.

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Match preview

United can take some comfort in the fact that they won both legs of this fixture last season.

But a lot has changed in the summer, and Thomas Frank’s side has undergone some changes in the squad that has seen them bring in some notable additions.

An impressive transfer window has seen Brentford bring in the likes of Keane Lewis-Potter, Aaron Hickey, Mikkel Damsgaard, Thomas Strakosha and Ben Mee, but they ultimately lost Eriksen for free.

Team News, Brentford

As at Saturday, Brentford are certain to be without three players; Kristoffer Ajer, Sergi Canos and Ethan Pinnock.

Striker Ivan Toney, who helped mount a comeback against Leicester, is likely to be given the nod up front along with Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa in support, but this would mean Lewis-Potter is relegated to the bench.

Here is Brentford’s possible starting XI vs United:

Raya; Hickey, Jansson, Mee, Henry; Janelt, Norgaard, Dasilva; Mbuemo, Toney, Wissa

Manchester United

United’s most notable absentee for this game is Anthony Martial, who also missed the Brighton defeat with a hamstring injury.

The trio of Brandon Williams, Facundo Pellistri and Victor Lindelof are also unavailable for selection via injury, while Mason Greenwood still remains suspended.

Erik Ten Hag will have a huge decision to make regarding Cristiano Ronaldo on whether to start the Portugal star upfront or go with Marcus Rashford.

Alternatively, Ronaldo could come in for Scott McTominay, who struggled in the last game, but this would mean a tweak in formation for the Red Devils.

Here is United’s possible starting XI vs Brentford:

De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, L Martinez, Shaw; Eriksen, Fred, Fernandes; Sancho, Ronaldo, Rashford

Ten Hag makes feelings about Rashford clear

Elsewhere, Erik Ten Hag says he is happy with Marcus Rashford and “wouldn’t want to lose him” amid the winger’s transfer links to Paris Saint Germain.

The 24-year old forward has been a long-term target for Paris Saint Germain, who have reportedly reignited talks

Rashford’s representatives have reopened talks with the Ligue 1 champions over a possible transfer as he is seen as someone who can be part of PSG’s long-term project.

Authors
Rene Otinga photo
Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.
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