Brentford XI vs Manchester City – Predicted lineup and team news

Brentford travel to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday looking to secure a historic European berth.

Keith Andrews has guided his side to seventh place with three matches remaining. The Bees sit just one point behind Bournemouth in the race for continental football. They arrive in Manchester fresh from a convincing 3–0 victory over West Ham. However, Brentford have lost three of their four previous Premier League visits to this ground.

Brentford have developed into late-goal specialists under Andrews’ guidance this season. Only Liverpool have netted more goals in the final fifteen minutes of matches. This could be crucial against a City side that has conceded the fewest in that timeframe. The Bees also boast the highest shot conversion rate in the division at 13.8%. Andrews will set his team up to sit deep and frustrate the title chasers.

Brentford team news

Head coach Keith Andrews confirmed that Jordan Henderson will return to the matchday squad. The midfielder has been a significant miss since the draw at Leeds in March. Vitaly Janelt is also closer to a return after a full week of training. That said, Rico Henry is not yet ready despite returning to light work on the grass. Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo remain long-term absentees for the West London club.

Igor Thiago remains the primary goal threat for the visitors this afternoon. The Brazilian has scored twenty-two goals from seventy-nine shots this season. His conversion rate of 27.9% is among the best recorded in Premier League history. Only four players have produced a higher ratio since records began in 2003-04. Thiago is currently locked in a two-horse race with Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot.