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A reminder of the teams

Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Ake, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Reijnders; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.

Brentford (4-2-3-1) Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey; Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Dasilva, Nelson, Ouattara, Janelt, Furo.

Referee Michael Salisbury.

Keith Andrews’ pre-match thoughts

We’re very understanding of the magnitude of the game for them, but we’ve got our own agenda and we want to finish the season well.

This is as hard it gets. We need to play very, very well today to get something from the game.

Pep Guardiola’s pre-natch thoughts

Khusanov got a knock from Beto in a painful area. He’s not ready.

We’re into the last two weeks – let’s go for every game.

It’s nice to play at home. We’ll try to play a good game, then go to sleep!

Brentford still have a chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. If Aston Villa beat Freiburg in the Europa League final, the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League.

It’ll probably be between Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford. Not since Bad Santa have the three Bs caused such excitement.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Arsenal 35 41 76
2 Man City 34 37 71
3 Man Utd 36 15 65
4 Liverpool 36 12 59
5 Aston Villa 35 4 58
6 AFC Bournemouth 36 4 55
7 Brighton 36 10 53
8 Brentford 35 6 51
9 Chelsea 36 6 49
10 Everton 35 0 48
11 Fulham 36 -6 48
12 Sunderland 36 -9 48
13 Newcastle 35 -2 45
14 Leeds 35 -5 43
15 Crystal Palace 34 -6 43
16 Nottm Forest 35 -2 42
17 Tottenham Hotspur 35 -9 37
18 West Ham 35 -19 36
19 Burnley 35 -36 20
20 Wolverhampton 36 -41 18

Updated

Premier League results

  • Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

  • Brighton 3-0 Wolves

  • Fulham 0-1 Bournemouth

  • Sunderland 0-0 Man Utd

Updated

One of tonight’s subplots is the race for the Premier League golden boot. Erling Haaland leads the way with 25 goals; the only man with a chance of catching him is Brentford’s Igor Thiago.

Team news

Pep Guardiola makes two changes to his Manchester City side. Nathan Ake and Tiijani Reinders replace Abdukodir Khusanov (who is injured) and Nico Gonzalez.

Keith Andrews also makes a couple of changes. Aaron Hickey and Kristoffer Ajer come in for Sepp van den Berg and Dango Ouattara.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Ake, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Reijnders; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.

Brentford (4-3-3) Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey; Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Jensen; Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Dasilva, Nelson, Ouattara, Janelt, Furo.

Referee Michael Salisbury.

Updated

Pre-match reading

In which Harry Paterson previews the last lap of an intriguing title race.

Preamble

“Next time, there’ll be no next time.” The point of no return. Do or die. The last-chance saloon. Endgame tavern. Jeopardy Dread Wetherspoons.

However you want to describe it, Manchester City are in the position all sports teams fear: knowing they have no margin for error.

City lost control of the title race during their madcap 3-3 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday. If they fail to beat Brentford at the Etihad tonight, it’ll be all over bar the tweeting.

Though City are strong favourites, they will be wary of an impressive, overachieving opponent. Brentford might be the only regular Premier League team who have never suffered a pasting at the hands of Pep Guardiola – none of their defeats have been by more than two goals.

Goal difference could still decide the title, so City would love to change chat tonight. But the most important thing, by far, is that they don’t slip up again.

Kick off 5.30pm.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Arsenal 35 41 76
2 Man City 34 37 71
3 Man Utd 35 15 64
4 Liverpool 35 12 58
5 Aston Villa 35 4 58