Phil Parry
BBC Radio London

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Brentford host local rivals Fulham for the first time in the top flight and there are plenty of little plot lines which those with a sense of drama or narrative might like to keep an eye on.

The keen rivalry between the two clubs has flared up during periods when the two sides would meet regularly - the 1920s, 1950s and again in the 1980s and early 1990s, when both clubs were in the third or fourth tier.

Recent history adds a little fuel to the fire of passion this season. There was the play-off final meeting three years ago when the Covid pandemic meant no-one went to the game, which Fulham won in extra time thanks to Joe Bryan.

That lonely and disappointing night at Wembley was greeted by Thomas Frank as one of fine margins and with a steely determination to start the following campaign with a desire to push on.

Push on they did and a year later with sunshine and smiles, the Bees replaced Fulham in the top flight and in doing so ended the longest run of play-off failure.

However, the rivalry was reignited at the start of this season, and if the side from TW8 need any more incentive, it will be the fact Fulham again left it late to grab a win in August.

The game spoke volumes about both clubs, both managers and what we could expect from their seasons - and tees up the return nicely.

And of course, another plot line surrounds the 'leading the line' characters in the shape of Ivan Toney and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Toney with 14 goals in the Premier League - including an equaliser in the game at Craven Cottage - versus Mitrovic , who has 11 so far, one of which was the winner against the Bees in the 90th minute. The stage is surely set for the pair of them.

Add the backdrop of both teams being in the shake-up for a European spot and in good form, and you have a perfect setting for rivalries - collective and individual - to come to the fore.

I cannot wait.

Only Harry Kane (eight) has scored more goals in Premier League London derbies this season than Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic and Brentford's Ivan Toney (four each).

Only Dimitar Berbatov has ever scored more London derby goals for Fulham in a single Premier League campaign than Mitrovic (six in 2012-13).

Fulham beat Brentford in the corresponding fixture at Craven Cottage in August

Barely a Premier League week goes by without a London derby - the capital is home to eight top-flight clubs, after all.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham may command the headlines but this season has unearthed new Premier League rivalries.

A few meanders up the River Thames from Buckingham Palace, local bitterness is simmering - and when Brentford host Fulham on Monday (20:00 GMT), there will be more than bragging rights at stake.

"They are very much equals now," says Jonathan Burchill, author of Brentford history book A Pub On Each Corner: Stats and Facts from Griffin Park. "And this rivalry is growing.

"They are the local side we have played most often in recent years - and it helps that we have generally had the upper hand."

Read more here.

Brentford have won four of their last five home league games against Fulham, including the most recent meeting in December 2019 in the Championship.

Fulham can win both league matches against Brentford in a single campaign for the third time, after 1928-29 in the third tier and 1947-48 in the second tier.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank says the club shares in Ivan Toney's disappointment over the leaking of the bet inquiry and the timing.

Frank also dismissed reports the striker had trained badly with the England squad.

Fulham have only done a Premier League double over three London sides before - Charlton in 2002-03, Tottenham in 2003-04 and QPR in 2011-12.

Chris Sutton
BBC football expert

Both of these sides are in the top 10 for a reason - they don't lie down, whoever they play, and they are fluid going forward.

Fulham nicked the points right at the end of a thrilling game when they met in August and I am expecting another close one this time, just with the roles reversed.

Prediction: 2-1

Fulham

Fulham boss Marco Silva speaking to Sky Sports: "Everything is there for everyone to enjoy a good derby. Two good teams in good moments and in good form.

"We are here to play our game and express ourselves on the pitch knowing it will be difficult. Their form has been really good with a big run of unbeaten games and we want to be the team that can beat them.

"They are one of the teams that have more fast and direct attacks and they can punish you if you switch off."

On Manor Solomon: "We know what Manor can offer to us. The last four games he has scored four goals. He is an important player with a different profile from Bobby De Cordova-Reid."

Fulham's tally of 39 points is the highest by a promoted team after 25 matches of a Premier League season since Wigan Athletic in 2005-06.

They have won five away games this season in the league, their joint-most in a top-flight campaign (also 2003-04).

The Cottagers can equal the club record of six wins on the road in a top-flight campaign.

Brentford have won just one of their last nine London derbies in the league (D6, L2).

Meanwhile Fulham can triumph in four top-flight London derbies in the same season for the first time.

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank speaking to Sky Sports: "For all Brentford fans and Fulham fans it is a tiny bit more fun. Both teams are doing so well and I am really looking forward to the game.

"I think it could be one action, one moment or one mistake that decides this game and hopefully we will benefit from it. The intensity is going to be crucial, obviously quality on the ball and I have a feeling that set pieces may be key.

"The players are full of confidence so [I tell them to] show that."

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This is only the second top-flight meeting between these sides.

The first was back in August when Fulham won 3-2 at Craven Cottage thanks to Aleksandar Mitrovic's last-minute winner.

Brentford are one of only three teams in the top five European Leagues to be undefeated in 2023, along with Borussia Dortmund and Reims.

They are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games, five wins and six draws.

Too late for any of these players to make Garth Crooks' team of the week.

See who did make it here.

In case you missed it, the story of the weekend was Liverpool's 7-0 win over Manchester United.

Read Phil McNulty's analysis here

Or Marcus Rashford's reaction

Or how the pundits reacted

Or about Mohamed Salah's record-breaking goals

A very niche chance for a record is over.

Manor Solomon scored for Fulham in each of their last three games as a substitute.

Nobody has ever scored a Premier League goal in four games running off the bench.

Jamie Vardy did it in four of his consecutive substitute appearances but they were split over a couple of years.

Image source, BBC Sport

Brentford make one change from the side that started their 1-1 Premier League draw with Crystal Palace on 18 February as Mikkel Damsgaard comes in for Josh Dasilva, who drops to the bench.

Pontus Jansson and Frank Onyeka both start as substitutes after recovering from injury.

Brentford XI: Raya; Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Norgaard, Jensen, Damsgaard, Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa.

Subs: Cox, Schade, Dasilva, Onyeka, Jansson, Ajer, Baptiste, Janelt, Roerslev.

Image source, BBC Sport

Fulham make three changes from their 1-1 draw against Wolves in the Premier League on 24 February.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Manor Solomon and Sasa Lukic retain their places from the FA Cup win over Leeds with Joao Palhinha suspended and Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Carlos Vinicius dropping to the bench.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Reed, Lukic, Pereira, Willian, Solomon, Mitrovic.

Subs: Rodak, Wickens, Adarabioyo, Wilson, Soares, De Cordova-Reid, James, Vinicius, Harris.

BBC pundit Micah Richards has picked his players of the season so far - read who made the cut here.

"Brentford striker Ivan Toney had a shout. Fulham's Joao Palhinha has been one of the signings of the season but I don't think he quite makes the list," said the ex-Manchester City defender.

Both of these sides are in the European mix.

Fulham currently occupy seventh, which would be enough for a Europa Conference League play-off place.

Brentford would only be one point behind them if they win today.

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Hello and welcome to live text commentary of this Monday night Premier League derby.