It might be best for Pep Guardiola that he start Erling Haaland on the bench for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brentford. After all, last time out in the league, the Nordic Meat Shield scored the game winner in extra time.
With or without Haaland, City should be able to take the sting out of the Bees this weekend, but you would have to think Haaland will want another chance to pad his league lead in goals scored before he goes on a long holiday.
Manchester City vs Brentford FYIs
Kick-off time: Saturday 12th, November 12.30 PM, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Form Guide: Manchester City WWWLW Brentford DDLDW
Manchester City Team News: go here
After Extra Time Pod: Apple Spotify
Google Result Probability: Man City 86% Brentford 4% Draw 10%
Let’s see who joins Julian Alvarez in the rest of the first team, potentially. (By the way, in case you missed it, City was named the second biggest football brand in the world earlier this week)
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction vs Brentford FC
Ederson; Gomez, Dias, La Porte, Ake; Gundogan, Rodri, Silva; Grealish, Foden, Alvarez.
Prediction: Man City 2, Brentford 0
Let’s just get to the World Cup, and the World Cup break already.
Paul M. Banks is the Owner/Manager of The Sports Bank and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly contributed to WGN News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.