OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER — Manchester United host Brentford desperate to turn around their recent form with a morale-boosting result before the international break.
The Red Devils lost a chaotic match at home to Galatasaray in the Champions League 3-2, meaning they have started their European campaign with consecutive defeats. They are already facing a battle to qualify for the next phase.
That was also their third defeat in four games at Old Trafford in all competitions. Crystal Palace were 1-0 winners here last weekend, and if Brentford can produce a similar shock, the pressure on United manager Erik ten Hag will only increase.
Brentford have only won one of their seven league matches this season and Thomas Frank’s side were held to a draw by 10-man Nottingham Forest last time out.
The Bees have lost three of their four Premier League meetings with United, the other being that famous 4-0 victory early last season. They have never scored at Old Trafford in the Premier League, and their last victory away against United was back in February 1937.
The Sporting News is following the Man United vs. Brentford match live, providing score updates and highlights as they happen.
Man United vs Brentford live score
Score
Goal scorers
Man Utd
0
—
Brentford
1
Jensen (26′)
Starting lineups:
Man United (4-2-3-1, right to left): 24. Onana (GK) — 20. Dalot, 5. Maguire, 35. Evans, 2. Lindelof — 18. Casemiro, 4. Amrabat — 8. Fernandes, 7. Mount, 10. Rashford — 11. Hojlund
Brentford: (3-5-2, right to left): 21. Strakosha (GK) — 20. Ajer, 5. Pinnock, 22. Collins — 30. Roerslev, 8. Jensen, 6. Norgaard, 27. Janelt, 2. Hickey — 19. Mbeumo, 11. Wissa
Man United vs Brentford live updates, highlights, commentary
45th min: Casemiro loops a header back across goal and Hojlund somehow misses it completely when practically on the goal line. The offside flag was up anyway.
40th min: Courtesy of Opta: this is only the third time United have conceded the first goal in four consecutive Premier League games at Old Trafford. The previous occasions came under David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
4 – This is just the third time Manchester United have conceded the opening goal in four consecutive Premier League games at Old Trafford also doing so in February/March 2014 (W1 D1 L2) and in July/September 2020 (W1 D2 L1). Leaky. pic.twitter.com/p54i4RumAZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 7, 2023
37th min: Finally a save for Strakosha! Rashford does well to work space in the box and tries to pick out the bottom-left corner, but the Brentford keeper gets down well to save. At the other end, Mbeumo curls a shot goalwards but it bounces wide.
33rd min: United haven’t really responded to falling behind. They still haven’t created a meaningful chance, and Thomas Strakosha in goal is having a far quieter Premier League debut for the Bees than he might have expected.
26th min: GOAL FOR BRENTFORD! It’s another horror-show at the back from United and the visitors lead at Old Trafford! It all started with Casemiro giving the ball away in his own half. Nobody challenged Wissa as he ran into the area, and although his pass was poor, Lindelof played it straight back against him. Jensen shot goalwards, it took a slight nick off Lindelof, and Onana couldn’t keep it out.
Watch in USA:
Mathias Jensen has the breakthrough for Brentford and Old Trafford is stunned!
📺 @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/ZnMtZsA5Tn
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 7, 2023
Canada:
Mathias Jensen SCORES!!
⚽ 0-1 Manchester United vs Brentford FC
WATCH EVERY GOAL 👉 https://t.co/2w98QqADfX#PL #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/d2AtyXS4gd
— FuboCanada 🇨🇦 (@fuboTVCanada) October 7, 2023
22nd min: Chance for Mount! Andre Onana’s raking pass releases Fernandes, who squares the ball to United’s No.7. Pinnock gets across to make a good block inside the penalty area.
20th min: Some sustained pressure from United but Brentford’s back three repels a succession of crosses. They win a free-kick on the break, 35 yards from goal, but Bryan Mbeumo’s delivery misses its target.
17th min: Another Brentford corner ends in another Hickey shot that flies off target. It’s clearly a tactic they’ve been working on.
12th min: Better from United as Fernandes’ first-time cross is just hooked away from Rasmus Hojlund by Ethan Pinnock. The game is then stopped as the United striker just got caught by the ball in his eye.
10th min: It’s probably no surprise given the makeshift lineup, but United’s defence is looking uncomfortable on the left. They seem unsure who should track runs and who should defend the box. So far, Brentford haven’t made much use of that uncertainty.
4th min: Brentford win the first corner as Lindelof blocks a cross from Mathias Jensen behind. They work it to the edge of the box and Aaron Hickey tries a shot, but it curls over the bar.
1st min: Victor Lindelof is playing at left-back today, with Diogo Dalot on the right. Sofyan Amrabat gets his first taste of partnering Casemiro in midfield. It looks like Bruno Fernandes is starting on the right in attack.
Kickoff!
After messing it up at first, United kick us off in the surprisingly warm October sunshine.
10 mins to KO: There’s a warm round of applause from the United and Brentford fans in recognition of Cathy Ferguson, the wife of former Red Devils manager Alex Ferguson. Cathy passed away this week at the age of 84. United players are wearing black armbands today in recognition.
30 mins to KO: The last time Maguire and Evans started a Premier League game together was for Leicester City back in 2019. But needs must for Erik ten Hag, who is missing his entire first-choice defence through injury. Moving Sofyan Amrabat to midfield may also help prevent Casemiro becoming as isolated as he has in recent weeks.
We’re half an hour away from kickoff and the sun has come out. It’s a good day for it.
The banner torn down by Galatasaray fans is back up and fully repaired #MUFC pic.twitter.com/ngGTjsiFet
— Joe Wright (@JoeWright004) October 7, 2023
Team news
It’s an interesting one for Man United — Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans start at the heart of defence! The last time those two played together was in the closing minutes against Arsenal, when the Gunners scored two late goals to win 3-1. Raphael Varane has a “minor” issue that keeps him out.
Bring on the Bees! 🔴🆚🐝#MUFC || #MUNBRE
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 7, 2023
Brentford are without goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who came down with illness today. Keane Lewis-Potter misses out with a calf injury for the Bees, who look like they will start in a 3-5-2 system.
🐝 Your Bees to take on Manchester United#MUNBRE | #BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/7qcslsyfvr
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) October 7, 2023
1 hour 40 mins before KO: An important charity drive is taking place before and after today’s game at Old Trafford: fans and visitors can donate unwanted coats and warm clothes to the Manchester United Foundation’s winter coat appeal, which will be used to help some of the poorest families in the city and surrounding area.
If anyone going to Old Trafford today can donate, then please do (you can do it before or after the game). There are donation bins at the bag drop locations around the stadium. I went to the one in the car park outside the Sir Alex Ferguson stand (dead easy to find)#MUFC https://t.co/1NhwUFdX1b
— Joe Wright (@JoeWright004) October 7, 2023
2 hours before KO: There’s little immediate sense that Erik ten Hag’s job is under threat at Manchester United, but another disappointing result today would increase the pressure on his position, especially given we’re heading into an international break, when the analysis is likely to intensify. Can his players perform for him today?
Concentration is 🔑
Watch our latest catch-up with the boss, ahead of #MUNBRE 👇#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 7, 2023
Man United vs Brentford live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
Region
TV
Streaming
USA
USA Network, Universo
Fubo, NBC app/website, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Universo NOW
Canada
—
Fubo Canada
UK
—
—
Australia
—
Optus Sport
India
—
Hotstar VIP,
JioTV
Hong Kong
Now Premier League 1 (Ch.620-621)
Now TV
Malaysia
Astro SuperSport
Astro Go, sooka
Singapore
Hub Premier 1 (Ch. 221)
StarHub TV+
New Zealand
Sky Sport 7
Sky Sport NOW
Man United vs Brentford prediction, odds
United have won their two previous Premier League home games against Frank’s Brentford, but their poor run of results does not inspire major confidence, and Brentford have only lost once in three away league matches this season.
Prediction: Man United 1-1 Brentford
UTD
win
Draw
BRE
win
Both teams
to score Y / N
Over / Under
2.5 goals
BetMGM
(USA)
-159
+320
+380
-152 / +105
-164 / +120
In Canada, bet Premier League at Sports Interaction: See latest odds for Man United vs. Brentford here