How to watch and follow United v Brentford

It’s our first 15:00 BST kick-off this season and, with our following five top-flight fixtures scheduled on Sundays, we won’t have another in the traditional start time until December.

Thomas Frank’s men sit two points and three places above us in the table, although they have yet to win on the road in 2024/25, following defeats at Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham.

The Reds will be looking to avoid the Bees’ penchant for an early sting and end a run of five winless games. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the meeting…

HOW CAN I WATCH THE GAME?

Due to the Saturday blackout, the match won’t be televised live in the UK, but we have exclusive pre-match build-up, live radio commentary and post-match reaction on ManUtd.com, MUTV and the United App.

Our website and app are also the places to be for rolling match updates, in-game data and the highlights, when they are released.

A short version will be available to watch across our platforms two hours after the final whistle, with extended cuts to follow.

WHAT’S THE TEAM NEWS?

Amad, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Noussair Mazraoui withdrew from international duty during the break, and we await further updates from manager Erik ten Hag on the Reds quartet.

Harry Maguire will be sidelined for the next few weeks after picking up a muscle injury against Aston Villa, while Mason Mount hasn’t featured since suffering a head issue and another knock during the defeat to Tottenham.

Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro are working hard at Carrington in their bids to return from longer-term absences.

The visitors will definitely be without summer signing Igor Thiago, as he is still working his way back from knee surgery. Josh Dasilva is recovering from a similar operation and Aaron Hickey (hamstring) is also a long way from a return.

Frank recently provided more positive updates on Rico Henry (knee) and Yoane Wissa (ankle), although this fixture may come too early for both players. Mathias Jensen has been training and could return following a calf problem.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS

The Bees must now be considered an established Premier League outfit, as they are enjoying a fourth consecutive season in the top-flight since promotion in 2021. They finished 16th last term but were 13 points clear of the drop zone and never really looked in true danger of being relegated to the Championship.

Frank has had to work around the departure of leading striker Ivan Toney and the injuries to Thiago and Wissa, but the Londoners have retained their threat in the opposition area, with only four sides topping the 13 goals they’ve managed so far – the dangerous Bryan Mbeumo has scored six of them.

The most noteworthy stat from Brentford’s season to date surrounds their fast starts. The Bees became the first team to score in the opening minute of three consecutive fixtures in the competition's history, netting after 22 seconds at Manchester City, 23 seconds at Spurs and 36 seconds against West Ham United at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Nathan Collins had to wait - but only until minute two - to find the opener last time out, in an exciting 5-3 win over Wolves, so United will have to be extra wary to begin with at the weekend.

RECENT MEETINGS

United have won all three Premier League head-to-heads in M16, although it was mighty close last time out. The Reds entered stoppage time 1-0 down, before Scott McTominay’s double ensured it was an afternoon that will live long in the memory of all those who were in attendance at Old Trafford.

There looked to be similar late drama in our favour during the reverse fixture, when Mount opened his United account after 96 minutes in west London.

Unfortunately, there was still time for the home side to respond and Kristoffer Ajer converted an Ivan Toney pull-back to secure a draw for Brentford.

DID YOU KNOW?

On average, the ball has been in play for 58 minutes and 38 seconds in Brentford’s Premier League games this season, and 58 minutes 34 seconds for United – the second and third highest amounts in the top-flight, behind Manchester City (62 minutes 49 seconds).

Christian Eriksen has been involved in six goals in his last five games in all competitions (3 goals, 3 assists). Only Alejandro Garnacho (7) has more for the Reds than the Denmark international in 2024/25.

All 10 of Brentford’s points this season have been won at home and the Bees have lost 13 of their last 17 top-flight fixtures on the road.

With thanks to our friends at Opta.

RIVALS WATCH

SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER

Tottenham v West Ham (12:30 BST)
Fulham v Aston Villa
Ipswich v Everton
UNITED v Brentford
Newcastle v Brighton
Southampton v Leicester
Bournemouth v Arsenal (17:30 BST)

SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER

Wolves v Manchester City (14:00 BST)
Liverpool v Chelsea (16:30 BST)

MONDAY 21 OCTOBER

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

All kick-offs 15:00 BST unless stated.

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