Man United v Brentford LIVE: Team news and line-ups from crucial clash in battle for European places – UK Times

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, Van Den Berg, Lewis Potter, Jensen, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Schade, Thiago, Ouattara

Substitutes: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Ajer, Donovan, Furo, Shield

Man Utd XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Mbeumo, Sesko.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Dorgu, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Ugarte, Lacey, Zirkzee

We’ll have confirmed team news coming through in the next few minutes.

Here’s a reminder of the absentees: Harry Maguire returns from suspension for Manchester United, and should line up at centre half with Lisandro Martinez still serving his ban. Leny Yoro is a doubt with a knock and Patrick Dorgu has been ruled out.

Rico Henry, Vitaly Janelt and Jordan Henderson remain absent for Brentford, though all are edging closer to a return. Josh Dasilva, Kaye Furo, Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo are longer term absentees.

Michael Carrick said he lives for moments like Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as his side took a huge step towards qualifying for the Champions League.

Matheus Cunha struck the winner in the first half with United’s only shot on target as they moved 10 points clear of the struggling Blues, whose own top-five hopes were dealt a serious blow.

Liam Rosenior’s side (remember him?) hit the crossbar twice in the second half and despite dominating, seemed to lack belief as they lost a fourth Premier League game in a row without scoring.

A reminder of both teams’ last top-flight games…

Wasteful Brentford missed a chance to climb into the top six as they were held to a goalless draw by west London neighbours Fulham.

A drab derby ended in a stalemate after Bees’ top scorer Igor Thiago hit the goal frame, Keane Lewis-Potter blazed a glorious chance over, and Bernd Leno made a stunning last-minute save from Dango Ouattara.

A fifth straight draw keeps them in the European shake-up, however, as well as ending a run of three consecutive defeats by their rivals from along the Thames.

So a win for the hosts tonight would take them a step further towards qualifying for the Champions League – and no doubt do Michael Carrick’s chances of becoming permanent manager no harm at all. They only need two more wins to guarantee a return to the top table in Europe.

Brentford themselves would go into the European places with a win, but have drawn their last five league games, so need to break that streak.

It’s certainly tight at the top. Man Utd currently sit third in the table, 12 points off City in second but level with fourth-placed Liverpool and third-placed Aston Villa, and are only above the Reds thanks to their superior number of goals scored.

However, Michael Carrick’s side have a game in hand on both clubs.

Brentford are down in ninth but level on points with eighth-placed Chelsea and 10th-placed Fulham, and would leap into sixth, displacing Brighton, with a win tonight.

Manchester United XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.

Brentford XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Yarmolyuk, Jensen; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.

Harry Maguire returns from suspension for Manchester United, and should line up at centre half with Lisandro Martinez still serving his ban. Leny Yoro is a doubt with a knock and Patrick Dorgu has been ruled out.

Rico Henry, Vitaly Janelt and Jordan Henderson remain absent for Brentford, though all are edging closer to a return. Josh Dasilva, Kaye Furo, Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo are longer term absentees.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channel from 6.30pm BST. A live stream will be available on Sky Go and NOW.