Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Old Trafford

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim refers to the Munich tragedy in his programme notes ahead of today's game.

“When I first arrived at Manchester United, one of the first things I did was take a tour of Old Trafford so I could learn about the club’s history," he reveals.

"I had heard about the Munich Air Disaster but in taking that tour and absorbing the details of the tragedy and how club reacted afterwards, I started to understand how special this club really is.

"Today, because we are in a difficult season, it feels like there is so much pressure on us.

"But when you look back at how the club responded to such a devastating event in 1958, we have it easy in comparison."

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to PLP about Eberechi Eze's return: "It looked like he was not available, but surprisingly for all of us he could train yesterday and he felt OK.

"It is very positive as he didn't train all week, it's not possible for him to start, but he is ready to contribute.

"He gives us a good option from the bench."

"We talked about what we want to improve for the game here and we want to go with higher play and a higher pace."

On Man Utd: "Of course, I can see improvements step-by-step with the new manager and the system they are playing.

"They are consistent with the players they are playing.

"The way they're playing is better."

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have won just one of their seven Premier League meetings with Tottenham, with all three at the Gtech Community Stadium ending in a draw.

The team scoring first has won none of the past five Premier League meetings between Brentford and Tottenham, with Spurs coming back to win twice, Brentford once and two draws.

BBC Sounds

On the move this afternoon? Remember you can also take today’s commentaries of Manchester United v Crystal Palace and Brentford v Tottenham with you on the BBC Sounds app.

Or if you’d like to tune in at home via your smart speaker, simply say to your device "Play Radio 5 Live” or “Play Radio 5 Sports Extra”.

Who will be right, Manchester United's in-house TV station - or George? We'll find out soon.

Leon Osman
Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kobbie Mainoo had a good game against a team [FCSB] that you would expect United to play well against.

When they step back into the Premier League they have not found it as easy.

It's a big call - Hojlund and Zirkzee not being selected.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Old Trafford

If anyone knows Ruben Amorim's intended formation, it is MUTV.

They have listed Bruno Fernandes as a false nine in Ruben Amorim's line-up today.

I can see the sense in that. Fernandes had the same role in last season's FA Cup final and that went quite well.

If he drops off, Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo can fill the gaps with their pace.

Brentford

Brentford manager Thomas Frank speaking to Sky Sports: "Mark [Flekken] got a side strain two days ago, so unfortunately he can't play but [I have] full confidence in Hakon [Valdimarsson]. He did well when he came on against Brighton. He's looked really good in the last couple months in training, so [I'm] not in doubt he'll do well.

"I expect a lot of transitions, open situations for both teams. For us, it's to minimise the open situations going against us, so try to have plus one in the rest defence all the time when possible. And to try to exploit Tottenham when they're open.

"Tottenham are really good in transitions, almost close to be as good as Liverpool. [Against] Liverpool we really managed that well but we had 10 very good situations where we didn't benefit from. Hopefully we can do that today."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Gtech Community Stadium

Image source, Michael Emons

This match features two of the great entertainers of this Premier League season.

No top-flight team has scored more at home in 2024-25 than Brentford's 29 goals at the Gtech Community Stadium, where they have collected 23 of their 31 points.

Meanwhile, Tottenham's total of 46 goals is the third highest in the league, behind only leaders Liverpool (56) and reigning champions Manchester City (47).

Each of the past five matches between these two sides has seen either four or five goals, so let's hope for similar entertainment today.

Image source, Michael Emons

Image source, Michael Emons

Chris Collinson
BBC football statistician

Tottenham have taken just four points from their last 10 Premier League games – their worst form for almost 31 years.

Only once across their 1,251 Premier League games have they taken fewer points in a 10-game spell, when they took just three points between January and March 1994.

Final Score's Jason Mohammad is joined by Stephen Warnock and Ashley Williams to discuss which Premier League clubs need to do transfer business before Monday's deadline.

I was wrong when I said Manchester United would lose at Fulham last week, which a few people happily reminded me about on social media.

It was not exactly a convincing win, but maybe things will click for them here - I have my doubts though.

I have got a bit of sympathy for United striker Rasmus Hojlund, who is getting some criticism at the moment. He was signed as a development player, albeit an expensive one, but it has not happened for him.

There are two sides to his situation though. I feel sorry for him because he needs a run of games to find some rhythm, but he also needs to take his chances when they come, and do better at some of the basics, like holding the ball up.

He's not the only player at United in that situation, with something to prove.

Maybe they will become a free-scoring side again, but that probably won't happen here and it still feels like we are totally guessing about what they will do each week.

Crystal Palace lost at home to Brentford on Sunday, which was a bit of a surprise because they have been so solid recently.

The Eagles won at Old Trafford last season, but this game has got a draw written all over it.

Prediction: 1-1

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Gtech Community Stadium

What a few days it has been in Tottenham striker Mikey Moore's fledgling career.

On Thursday, the 17-year-old, who has represented England at Under-19s level, scored his first goal for the club with a wonderful low finish after a powerful run to complete a 3-0 Europa League win over Swedish side Elfsborg.

In doing so, Moore (17 years and 172 days) broke Jimmy Greaves' record (17 years and 245 days in October 1957) to become the youngest-ever English scorer in major men's European competition.

Today he makes only his second Premier League start after he played the opening 62 minutes of Spurs' 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace in October. If he scores today, it will be his first top-flight goal.

With Tottenham's injury problems, boss Ange Postecoglou is having to rely on youngsters in his squad. Archie Gray, 18, has been a vital part of the defence, while goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, signed from Slavia Prague last month, is only 21. Six of Tottenham's nine subs are aged 20 or younger, including 16-year-old Malachi Hardy.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Old Trafford

Manchester United will honour the 23 victims of the Munich air crash ahead of today's game.

The crash, after a refuelling stop on the way back from Belgrade, where Matt Busby's side had played Red Star in the European Cup in 1958, resulted in the deaths of eight players, including England stars Roger Byrne, Tommy Taylor and Duncan Edwards.

Flags are flying at half mast in the stadium, the United players will wear black armbands and 'Flowers of Manchester' will be played 15 minutes before kick-off.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou speaking to Sky Sports:

On Micky van de Ven not featuring: "[I'm] just trying to manage his minutes, we had a look at it, it's a quick turnaround and I spoke with the medical team and Micky himself. We'll just keep him on ice this week and give him another week of training and hopefully he'll be ready for the end of the week.

On a start for 17-year-old Mikey Moore: "Mikey's working his way back to full fitness, he obviously missed a fair bit of football. He's always positive on the ball, I think we're going to need that today and we're trying to balance the workload of our players as well. The three in midfield only played 45 minutes on Thursday night and we're going to need that energy. We've got Pape [Sarr] and Lucas [Bergvall] to come on.

"Our league form is not what it should be and I think in all the game we've lost and again were getting let down in moments in games, it's not like we're getting blown apart by teams.

"It does take some concentration and some discipline in our football and we're going to need that today. With Brentford at home, it's always a hard challenge. The players are up for it."

Manchester United

Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to PLP about his starting forwards: "Try to play in different positions, to create some danger. We also want to improve the way we take the game in the last third - we need to have more possession."

On Kobbie Mainoo's advanced role: "I like him with the ball. Sometimes you have more space in the build-up phase. I think he's a good player because he can hold the ball. He is very good one against one and he is creative. We need creativity in the last third."

On Crystal Palace: "They are comfortable playing away and we want to improve at home with our fans. We have to be humble, but a bit arrogant with the ball - we will try to show that today."

Nothing to worry about, Spurs fans, regarding Micky van de Ven by the way.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has told Sky Sports: "We're just trying to manage his minutes.

"It is a quick turnaround and I spoke with the medical team and Micky [and decided] to give him another week of training to be ready in another week."

The centre-back has only played twice since October because of hamstring injuries.