Every summer, Brentford seem to dance with death. They almost always sell off at least one of their best players and don't usually replace them, at least in a like-for-like sense. Yet since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2021, the Bees have never really faced the threat of relegation back to the Championship. It was, however, only this past summer that they were widely tipped to battle the drop.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has revealed his squad have been hit with a virus that has affected players and staff. The Blues were without Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens due to illness for their Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Arsenal and both players have been ordered to stay at home. More staff members have also been affected ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Brentford.
Macclesfield FC will welcome the Premier League's Brentford to their Moss Rose home in the next round of the 2025-26 FA Cup after the fourth round draw handed the non-league side another glamorous tie against top flight opposition. The Silkmen sensationally beat holders Crystal Palace in the third round to complete one of the greatest FA Cup shocks of all-time.
Igor Thiago has topped Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha to make Premier League history. The in-form Brentford striker is now the highest-scoring Brazilian in a single English top-flight campaign. He has taken his tally of goals in 2025-26 to 16, with his exploits coming as a surprise to many - including his own manager, Keith Andrews.
Premier League clubs face unusual kick-off times this weekend, as the New Year's schedule continues apace. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all in action on Sunday, with 3pm kick-offs being aired live on television. GOAL can explain why the kick-off times are out of the ordinary as the year of 2026 gets underway.
Thomas Frank is adamant Tottenham Hotspur are “going in the right direction” under his stewardship, despite the club sitting 14th in the Premier League table. The Dane has found himself under pressure in his first season at Spurs, with the club currently on a worrying run of form which has conjured just one top-flight victory in their last eight fixtures.
As we reach Christmas and approach the midway point in the Premier League season, the time has come to reflect on the first half of a campaign that has delivered drama and unexpected twists in abundance. It's also the opportune moment to assess those players who completed a transfer to, or within, the English top-flight back in the summer, with a decent sample size of games now under their belts.
Pure excitement has been the theme of this Premier League season. Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are locked in a three-way title race while practically the rest of the division is competing for a European place. Indeed, the table is so crowded it feels more like the Championship than the top-flight, with back-to-back wins being all it takes to propel teams from 15th to the top five.
Matt Doherty says he and his Wolverhampton Wanderers team-mates run the risk of being called “cowards” if they do not show more accountability as the club’s woeful Premier League season plunged to new depths. The Molineux club equalled an unwanted record as they suffered their 15th top-flight defeat of the campaign in a 2-0 reverse against Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester City suffered an injury blow during their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Brentford as youngster Oscar Bobb was forced off early with a knock. Bobb missed the majority of the 2024-25 campaign after being sidelined with a broken leg. The Norwegian winger only returned to action this March but in the current season, he has experienced limited game time under Pep Guardiola.
In-form Manchester City star Rayan Cherki scored an absolute piledriver against Brentford from the edge of the box to hand his team a first-half lead in their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash. After converting the world-class strike, the Frenchman emulated team-mate Erling Haaland's signature 'meditation' pose to celebrate the goal at Etihad Stadium.
The competition is approaching the final stages, with teams soon narrowed down to the last four - here is how to watch the draw, plus everything else you need to know.
The Africa Cup of Nations is back this December and January, with the continent's very best set to battle it out in Morocco as they aim to take Cote d'Ivoire's crown after their unlikely victory at the start of 2024. AFCON's prestige, drama and quality remains up there with the Euros and Copa America, but the downside for European clubs is it's another tournament which falls slap bang in the middle of their seasonal calendar, meaning most teams will be losing players for up to a month.
Manchester City star Jeremy Doku has been ruled out of the club's Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Brentford and is set to miss the bulk of the festive programme. Pep Guardiola confirmed that the Belgian winger is still recovering from the leg injury that kept him out of City's win at Crystal Palace over the weekend, while also discussing the future of back-up goalkeeper James Trafford ahead of the January window.
Jordan Henderson dedicated his first Brentford goal to "good friend" Diogo Jota after the Bees' 1-1 draw with Leeds on Sunday afternoon. Henderson broke the deadlock in the 70th minute as his low effort deflected past Lucas Perri. However, 12 minutes later, Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for the fourth game running to ensure a share of the spoils in west London.
Pulisic is chasing a first league title, Balogun is delivering in Europe, and Brenden Aaronson is fighting relegation - GOAL breaks down the biggest Americans Abroad storylines across Europe this weekend.
Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah has been spotted holding a "secret London summit" with former Anfield team-mate Jordan Henderson. The Egyptian superstar, who will soon be heading off on Africa Cup of Nations duty, is seeing questions asked of his future on Merseyside following an explosive outburst. He is being linked with Saudi Pro League teams, with Henderson having previously spent time in that division.
Arsenal's defensive injury crisis has deepened as Cristhian Mosquera became the club's latest defender to suffer an injury after William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. The 21-year-old centre-back was forced off the pitch against Brentford in the first half after picking up a knock. Despite yet another fitness setback, Mikel Arteta's side secured all three points as they registered a 2-0 win at home.
Famous presenter Piers Morgan has begged Arsenal to win the Premier League, and kick off an era of dominance that will see them become the Premier League's best-ever team. The Gunners have not won the title since 2004 under Arsene Wenger but Mikel Arteta's side are top of the league in December, and are dreaming of lifting silverware in May.
Brentford have a remarkable record when it comes to replacing their star players. Over the last six years, the Bees have continued to progress despite seeing the likes of Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma, Neal Maupay, David Raya and Ivan Toney all move on, thanks to the meticulous work of the club's recruitment department. Their latest success story is Brazilian powerhouse Igor Thiago, who has emerged as a genuine rival to Erling Haaland for the Premier League's Golden Boot during the first half of the 2025-26 campaign.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that William Saliba and Leandro Trossard are major doubts for a London derby meeting with Brentford on Wednesday night. Both players missed the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the weekend. Arteta also delivered updates on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes as they remain in the treatment room with more serious knocks.
There's been a lot of talk lately about the Premier League as a product. Is modern football actually boring? Are teams now too reliant on set pieces to score goals? Are the mavericks and the willing protagonists being silenced just to preserve their manager's tactics? Have we gone too far in pursuit of sporting perfection?
Brentford and Sunderland are reportedly eyeing AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez ahead of the January transfer window, despite the Mexican international failing to score in his first nine Serie A appearances this season. Milan's pursuit of a new number nine is said to be contingent on Gimenez's departure, with the Rossoneri evaluating a potential swap deal with West Ham for Niclas Fullkrug.
Brentford
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