Manchester United’s solitary defeat in 11 matches in all competitions since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked came at home to Wolves in the Premier League on 3rd January.

The red Devils are just one short of becoming the first club to record 300 Premier League away victories.

Brentford begin this match 14th in the Premier League table on 23 points. In terms of expected goals, the Bees would be seventh in the table on 30 points.

They have however, lost four of their last five league fixtures.

The Bees are in good form at home thought, they have triumphed in three of their last four Premier League home games, having won only one of their first six at the Brentford Community Stadium.

Ralf Rangnick has no concerns about selecting Paul Pogba during the final months of his Manchester United contract, even if the midfielder’s only motivation to play well is to earn a deal at another club.

Pogba has entered the final six month of his current Old Trafford terms, with little progress made in discussions over a renewal and a departure on a free transfer in the summer considered likely.

The 28-year-old is yet to make an appearance under interim manager Rangnick after suffering a thigh injury while on international duty in November, though returned to full training on Monday.

This is the first meeting between the teams since Manchester United won a League Cup second-round tie at Old Trafford in September 1975.

Man United’s 4-1 home win in 1946 is the most recent league encounter between the two clubs and Brentford’s 2-0 home triumph in the FA Cup fifth round on 12th February 1938 is their last victory versus United.

Thomas Frank makes four changes to the Brentford team that lost to Liverpool at the weekend. Jonas Lossl makes his Premier League debut in goal for the Bees with Masd Bech, Mathias Jensen and Sergi Canos all returning to the starting XI. Rico Henry, Kristoffer Ajer, Shandon Baptiste and Alvaro Fernandez all drop to the bench.

Cristiano Ronaldo is back for Manchester United who make just two changes. Edinson Cavani is dropped from the squad to accommodate Ronaldo with Scott McTominay preferred to Nemanja Matic who starts on the bench.

Brentford XI: Loosl, Pinnock, Jansson, Bech, Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Canos, Mbeunmo, Toney

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles, Fred, McTominay, Greenwood, Fernandes, Elanga, Ronaldo

New rules on Covid-19 postponements in the Premier League could be in place for the first round of games in February.

Clubs are expected to meet next week, when the league is effectively on its winter break, to discuss changes to the criteria for calling a game off.

The league has begun consulting with clubs over this issue and the new regulations could apply when the English top flight resumes on 8th February.

Elsewhere in the Premier League tonight, Leicester City are hosting Tottenham in what is the Foxes first Premier League game od 2022.

Kasper Schmeichel, Caglar Soyuncu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Luke Thomas and Patson Daka all come back into the starting XI, with James Justin returning to the bench for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury almost a year ago.

Tottenhem make three changes from the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea. Hugo Lloris replaces Pierluigi Gollini in goal, Sergio Reguilon is in for Matt Doherty and Oliver Skipp comes in for Giovani Lo Celso.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Albrighton, Choudhury, Vestergaard, Soyuncu, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Thomas, Maddison, Lookman, Daka.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Royal, Tanganga, Sanchez, Davies, Reguilon, Skipp, Winks, Hojbjerg, Moura, Kane.

Four defeats in their last five Premier League fixtures have seen Brentford slip down to 14^th in the table and manager Thomas Frank will want to get his team back to winning ways.

Last time out the Bees displayed a decent defensive performance against Liverpool until Fabinho opened the scoring just before half-time. Brentford chased the game in the second 45 minutes and opened themselves up to counterattacks. Liverpool responded and won the game 3-0.

There were positives for Thomas Frank’s side though and they will feel that Manchester United don’t hold the same attacking threat as the Reds, if they can defend well again tonight, they may take something out of the game.

After a positive start under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, Manchester United have only won one of their last four league games. Last time out they surrendered a two-goal lead to Aston Villa after an inspired performance from Philippe Coutinho on his return to the Premier League.

Bruno Fernandes scored both goals in the 2-2 draw so he is back in form and with the reinforcements of Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo United may pick up a much needed three points this evening.

They’ll need them to close the gap on the top four. West Ham (4^th) are currently five points ahead of the Red Devils with Arsenal (5^th) and Tottenham (6^th) also vying for the Champions League places.

The defender missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and United interim boss Ralf Rangnick revealed he was also ruled out of Wednesday’s match at Brentford and would likely be unavailable for the home clash with West Ham three days later. Full story: