Only a week after Argentina triumphed in a crazy final in Qatar, the Premier League returns from the World Cup break with Tottenham traveling to Brentford on Boxing Day for the first match back .
The Bees’ last act in the league was to beat holders Manchester City away 2-1 while Spurs won a 4-3 thriller against Leeds United at home.
BRE vs TOT Match Details
Date: Monday, 26 December 2022
Time: 13:30 (BST) / 18:00 (IST)
Venue: Brentford Community Stadium, Brentford
BRE vs TOT Match Preview
Brentford defeated Manchester City at the Etihad before the Premier League paused because of the World Cup. The 2-1 win coming from a brace from their star striker Ivan Toney, including the last-minute winner, has put Brentford tenth on the chart with 19 points gathered from 15 matches. Upon returning to action, the Bees have got the chance to enter among the top six at least momentarily with another giant-killing task against Tottenham this time. However, to do so Thomas Frank’s side have to end their 13-game winless run against the team from North London. They have also lost two games in the last three meetings in all competitions with the other being a goalless draw at the Community Stadium. They have failed to score in that period. But beating both clubs from Manchester and only one loss to show at home this season, Brentford are confident enough to stretch their unbeaten run to four games. West Ham and Liverpool are the next two opponents on the cards so a positive result in this clash will be necessary. Only Newcastle United, Manchester City and Arsenal have lost fewer Premier League matches than Brentford. Considering all three clubs belong in the top four, it is a record to be proud of. The problem for the Bees is they have drawn far too many games than any other side in the league with seven. Brentford will wish to win on Boxing Day to reward their manager for signing a new contract with them until 2027.
Battling injuries and players overcoming World Cup hangover, Tottenham Hotspurs are desperate to get the best out of the available players for the next couple of games in the Premier League. Before the break for World Cup, Spurs were involved in a seven-goal fascinating encounter against Leeds United at the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium. A Rodrigo Bentancur double in the last ten minutes rescued the game for the home side that evening. The midfielder also scored the winner in the 3-2 win against Bournemouth played in October as the club made a habit of comeback victories recently. Antonio Conte will wish his side to exert more control in the period from now on with the trip to Brentford the first game back on Boxing Day. Even with a stellar record against the Bees in the Premier League, Spurs have managed only one win in the last 15 away London derbies and are winless in their last nine. On the contrary, Tottenham are undefeated in their last 15 league games on Boxing Day, winning 12 of them and not losing on this day since 2003. The Lilywhites are placed fourth on the table with 29 points after nine wins, two draws and four defeats to their name. Three points will be crucial in reaching the second spot on the table, currently held by Manchester City, which will see them open a six points gap with Manchester United ranked fifth on the table.
Recent Form (including friendlies)
BRE: DLLWL
TOT: DWWLL
BRE vs TOT Team News
Brentford captain Pontus Jansson is available for selection after his long injury layoff as confirmed by manager Thomas Frank ahead of the clash with Spurs. The center-back was absent since October with a hamstring injury. Denmark international Christian Norgaard is back fit to start the game but Thomas Strakosha, Kristoffer Ajer and Aaron Hickey are not available. Striker Ivan Toney is charged by FA over betting violations although Frank has reiterated the club’s support for him and that the 26-year-old is focused on playing the games in return to the club football.
Manager Antonio Conte has confirmed that Fraser Forster will start in goal at Brentford on Boxing Day with Hugo Lloris only available from the bench after reaching the World Cup final with France a week ago. Defender Cristian Romero misses out after winning the tournament with Argentina but Ivan Perisic has returned to training at the club following Croatia’s third-place finish in Qatar. Forward Richarlison is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained on his duty with Brazil at the tournament while Rodrigo Bentancur serves a one-match ban due to the accumulation of yellow cards. The midfielder would have been out anyway in picking up an injury with Uruguay at the World Cup.
BRE vs TOT Predicted Lineups
BRE: David Raya; Mathias Jorgensen, Ethan Pinnock, Ben Mee; Mads Roerslev, Frank Onyeka, Vitaly Janelt, Mathias Jensen, Rico Henry; Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney
TOT: Fraser Forster; Eric Dier, Clement Lenglet, Ben Davies; Emerson Royal, Yves Bissouma, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ivan Perisic; Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son
BRE vs TOT Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Raya (8)
DEF: Jorgensen (7), Dier (8), Mee (8.5), Davies (7.5)
MID: Kulusevski (8), Hojbjerg (9), Perisic (8.5)
FW: Son (8), Kane (9), Toney (9)
Vice-captain: Ivan Toney
Captain: Harry Kane
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
