Brentford

I thought Liverpool were really unlucky not to beat Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. They played well had enough chances to win, but Forest keeper Matz Sels made some excellent saves.

Now, with Arsenal winning on Wednesday, this game has become massive for Liverpool. If they don't win it, people are going to really question them.

Arne Slot's side have drawn their past two league games, and lost to Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

So, since the turn of they year they have only won one game in four - the home FA Cup tie against Accrington.

It is something of a mini-blip for them, and they need to get back on track. But they are still where they want to be - four points clear at the top of the Premier League and with a game in hand on the teams below them.

This is going to be another tough game for the leaders, though.

People might see Brentford's late comeback against Manchester City as justification for them resting players in their FA Cup home defeat by Plymouth.

I disagree with that, but the Bees have shown this season that they never lie down and I can see them scoring and keeping this close.

Unlike City, though, I believe Liverpool will find a way of getting over the line.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Thomas Frank says "he's very happy" at Brentford - but knows he won't be managing the club "forever".

Speaking to Gary Lineker for Football Focus, Frank said: "I'm very, very happy at Brentford - in many ways it's the perfect football club. You can still be ambitious. It'd be difficult to win the Premier League, but we can still build the club and have the chance to win something - a cup maybe.

"The environment, ownership and everything is so good, so my day-to-day job is extremely good - that means a lot.

"I won't be at Brentford forever. I may walk into another club that will be completely different and have to get everything sorted and it'll take time.

"I'm very happy here. What happens in the future? I don't know."

Frank, who is the second-longest-serving manager in the league, also believes the Premier League needs teams like Leicester in 2015-16 and Nottingham Forest this season to be challenging towards the top, and that these are "fantastic" kinds of stories.

"We need clubs like Leicester, Forest, Brentford and Bournemouth - clubs that are doing things differently and breaking into the so-called traditional squads," he said.

Watch Football Focus on Saturdays, 12:00 GMT on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app.

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Image source, Getty Images

No players have scored more home goals in the Premier League this season than Brentford pair Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa (nine).

The only Brentford player to reach double figures at home in a Premier League campaign is Ivan Toney (11 in 2022-23).

Brentford and DR Congo striker Yoane Wissa is a target for Nottingham Forest if Taiwo Awoniyi leaves the club this month. (Telegraph), external

Dortmund are interested in Brentford and Germany winger Kevin Schade, 23. (Bild - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at home to Liverpool (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Frank said he has "no new injuries" to contend with and Rico Henry came through the game unscathed on his first league appearance for 14 months. Frank said: "Everyone is available that was available for the Manchester City game. It's the same squad as Tuesday."

• He also gave an update on Gustavo Nunes, who is yet to make his debut after joining the club in the summer due to a back injury: "He is not on the grass, so it will take him a bit longer before he's back. I don't know the exact timeframe if I'm honest. It's not that I don't want him back, but he is not available for the weekend."

• Frank was asked if there is any chance of selling Bryan Mbeumo in the January transfer window: "No! It's very easy to answer - no chance! It would need to be that big of a fee that I can't imagine the size of the fee."

• Asked what his priority is in the window, Frank said: "I'm not focused on keeping my key players, I'm just expecting them to stay. We are always in the market. We don't have a urgency to bring new players in but we are aware we certainly need some."

• On managing a busy week after the 2-2 draw with City on Tuesday: "We have been in the whole week, no days off. The whole group were in on Wednesday to recover; on Thursday it was a light session with some tactical bits, preparing for Liverpool. Friday will be light as well, with the squad hopefully feeling fresh and ready to go for Saturday."

• He has to vary his training methods given the packed schedule: "We train hard with high intensity every session but then we need to manage the workload with how long we train with that high intensity and what kind of extensive drills we build in."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford are ready to let one goalkeeper leave on loan before the transfer deadline on Monday, 3 February.

Mark Flekken will remain Thomas Frank's first choice but Ellery Balcombe's loan recall from St Mirren has left the club with too many goalkeepers. Balcombe joins Hakon Valdimarsson and Matthew Cox in the west London club's squad.

Any one of those three deputy goalkeepers will be allowed to explore loan moves.

Beyond that, Brentford are expecting a quiet January in terms of both incomings and outgoings.

Midfielder Yunus Emre Konak, 19, is considering a loan move to play more first-team football but Brentford are happy with his development and are not likely to sanction a move.

Brentford B midfielder Ethan Brierley is also exploring his options but no move is believed to be imminent.

Arsenal are considering options to reinforce their attack with Brentford's Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25, on their list. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Watch highlights and analysis from eight midweek Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth

• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool

• Everton 0-1 Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Brentford and Manchester City, where the Bees came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw late on.

Here are some of your comments:

Brentford fans

Theo: A complete performance against one of the best clubs in the world. Very consistent in both halves, defended really well, looked dangerous going forward and battled for every ball. So much effort and pressing from the boys, and we never gave up! Couldn't be prouder of my team.

Mitch: I thought we were excellent, but if we'd been a little braver in the first half and played Kevin Schade from the start against a holding midfielder, we'd have won. I never felt we were overly threatened, and if we'd converted our chances... but what a fantastic game! Players were outstanding.

Rhys: Incredible night. Amazing performance. It should have been 5-2! Wonderful to watch and great to see Rico Lewis back in the Premier League.

Cliff: Super proud of our Brentford team. One of the best games at the Gtech this season and it felt like a win. I can't help but think that City should have completely closed the game down, though - and in previous seasons they would have I'm sure. Anyhow, Liverpool on Saturday!

City fans

Pat: Difficult one to take. For most of the game we were solid and controlled the midfield. We scored two very good goals and created numerous chances when we should have put the game to bed. Then we allow two soft goals in the last 10 minutes and drop two more points. But, for me, the game hinged on the decision to bring on Ilkay Gundogan for Mateo Kovacic. It felt wrong, looked wrong and ultimately changed the game.

Josh: Much better performance all round but same defensive frailties visible. Nathan Ake can't do it all - Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji are still liabilities defensively.

Colin: Frightening to see how low City are in confidence. The play on the edge of the opposition box shows that no-one will take a risk and either shoot or make a risky pass. All very safe and very boring - and won't lead to goals. A shadow of their former selves.

Martin: I thought they were looking more creative up front. Phil Foden must be crestfallen at the jelly-like defending and inability of the team to close out wins. Savinho good. Matheus Nunes and Akanji awful. Poor choices of substitutions. Mid-table team this year but little buds are appearing for development.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to TNT Sports: "I just said to the players in there that I was extremely happy and proud of the performance.

"I think this is the first time in four years that over the 90 minutes, we go toe-to-toe with a top-three club. I think Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have been the best three clubs in the four years we have been in the Premier League so the ability and the mindset to do that, the bravery throughout the game, extremely proud of that and of course coming back from 2-0 down is a fantastic mentality.

"Very happy. I would have been happy with the performance still but the feeling is a little bit better after you get something out of it."

On this being the seventh time Brentford have scored after 90 minutes: "We've got a very good group of players, we have created a great culture together. The staff, the players, everyone has very good characters so we just try to keep pushing that group and they do it for themselves."

On Yoane Wissa surpassing Ivan Toney to become Brentford's all-time top goalscorer in the Premier League: "I think that's extremely impressive, I'm very pleased on Wissa's behalf. He probably should have scored two if I'm a little bit after him but he has been very good for us and the way he has taken over from Ivan, not only him but Bryan [Mbeumo] as well, the partnership between the two of them is quite unique. We are just Brentford. Extremely proud."

On what is possible for Brentford this season: "I'm a very positive and optimistic guy, I go into every game believing that we can win with huge respect for any opponents. I know in some games we are probably not favourites, for example today, but we know if we hit our highest level we've got a chance in every game and that's a fantastic feeling to have and we try to transmit it to the boys. It is one game at a time but of course [we want to] go as far as possible."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

It proved to be another thrilling night for Brentford fans at the Gtech Community Stadium and a proud one for striker Yoane Wissa.

Manchester City, the English champions in each of the past four seasons, held a two-goal lead with 82 minutes on the clock, only for the Bees to produce a superb fightback to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Captain Christian Norgaard's powerful header provided a dramatic finale, but Brentford's first goal secured a moment of club history.

Wissa had space to shoot home from six yards out as he grabbed his 37th goal for the club in the top flight and moved above Ivan Toney as the Bees top scorer in the Premier League.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank called the achievement "extremely impressive" for a player that cost only £8.5m when he joined the Bees from French club Lorient in August 2021.

"I'm very pleased on Wissa's behalf," added Frank. "He probably should have scored two if I'm a little bit after him.

"But he has been very good for us and the way he has taken over from Ivan, not only him but Bryan [Mbeumo] as well, the partnership between the two of them is quite unique. We are just Brentford. Extremely proud."

Image source, Getty Images

Yoane Wissa scored his 37th Premier League goal, overtaking Ivan Toney (36) to become Brentford's top Premier League scorer.

He has also been involved in 12 goals across his past 10 home league appearances for the Bees (10 goals, two assists).

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard, speaking to TNT Sports: "Once [Yoane] Wissa scored the first goal, we thought we had a good grip on the game.

"I don't know how I ended up on the cross but it was nice to see it go in."

On his goal: "We speak a lot about attacking the gaps and even though I am not a striker, I listen anyway in the meetings and I attacked the gap.

"With a top, top performance, I think we get three points today but we'll take a point after being 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go."

On Liverpool being up next: "If we can keep this place rocking like we did tonight, I'm sure we can manage to get a good game against Liverpool."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brentford's performance

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Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

There are four Premier League fixtures on Tuesday and we will bring you every moment.

• Brentford v Man City - listen on the BBC Sport website and app

• West Ham v Fulham - listen on the BBC Sport website and app

• Chelsea v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Nottingham Forest v Liverpool (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

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The only ray of light to come out of Brentford's bitterly disappointing FA Cup defeat to Plymouth on Saturday was the return of Rico Henry.

The left-back had been sidelined since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament at Newcastle in September 2023 and, after coming close to a comeback a couple of times, finally made his first appearance in 16 months on Saturday.

The 27-year-old played the first hour of the match before being substituted and in that time produced a solid performance.

He withstood some hefty challenges from some Argyle players and slotted back into the side as if he had never been away.

I am sure the club will manage his comeback carefully, so it will be interesting to see how much of a part he plays in this week's back-to-back home games against Manchester City and Liverpool.

Henry's return would allow Keane Lewis-Potter to move into his more natural position on the left of a front three after admirably filling in at left-back this season.

His form earned a new contract running until 2031 and it is great to see players like KLP becoming part of the club's long-term future.

Aaron Hickey, who, like Henry, has been out injured since last autumn, also signed a new deal in the past few days, and said he appreciated the club standing by him during his absence from the side.

There was little else to celebrate on Saturday as, for the third season in a row, the Bees slipped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

Given our mid-table Premier League position, it is frustrating for us not to have a cup run.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

I was hoping Brentford would have a real go at the FA Cup this season, but they made a load of changes for their tie with Plymouth, and they ended up on the wrong end of the biggest shock of round three.

I can understand Bees' manager Thomas Frank's point of view, because he can argue his side have a busy schedule with some tough fixtures coming up - after this game, they host Liverpool on Saturday and I am there for Radio 5 Live.

He decided to give some fringe players an opportunity to get a game and impress him, against a struggling Championship team who had not won an away game all season, but it did not work out.

The Bees started the season with such a strong home record but Saturday's defeat means they have lost their past three matches there.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are starting to build some better form again, and their big win over Salford City at the weekend was their third in a row.

I was a bit surprised about the news Kyle Walker could be leaving City. He has not had the best of seasons, but he has probably been the best right-back the Premier League has seen.

Walker has been a huge part of what City have achieved under Pep Guardiola and I would be sad to see him leave the Premier League if he does go abroad.

In terms of this game, I feel like City are on a bit of a roll. I've already done something which I promised I wouldn't do in Fantasy Football, which is put Erling Haaland back in my team, and captained him.

It was a masterstroke from myself, and my assistant, because he scored twice in their last Premier League game against West Ham.

I am expecting Haaland to carry on his goalscoring form here, and I feel like City are going to edge it. I don't think it will be easy, though, and I cannot see them keeping a clean sheet.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford boss Thomas Frank does not believe Manchester City's recent dip in form would have surprised "best coach in the world" Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola's side hit an unprecedented slump in November and December, including a run of six league defeats in eight matches, before chalking up three straight wins in all competitions since a home Boxing Day draw against Everton.

The defending champions are 12 points behind leaders Liverpool and two points adrift of the top four before Tuesday's trip to face the Bees in the league at Gtech Community Stadium.

"A fantastic team with a fantastic coach and fantastic players," Frank said. "I don't think it's a surprise for Pep that they've had a dip.

"You never know when it is coming, but you know that not one team in the world can consistently just win year after year.

"It's impossible, especially in the best league in the world.

"What they've done for the past four years shouldn't be possible. It's hugely impressive and he will go again."

Frank and Guardiola are the Premier League's two longest-serving managers, boasting six years and eight-and-a-half years respectively in their current roles.

"For me, he is the best coach in the world," Frank added. "He's also the outlier when he is that good because I think he can stay as long as he wants to.

"Of course, everyone needs to perform - even Pep and he says that himself - but he's that good that he can come up with solutions."

Having suffered a shock FA Cup exit in a 1-0 home defeat by Plymouth on Saturday, Brentford will bid to bounce back against a City side who thrashed Salford 8-0 in their third-round tie.