Brentford FC vs Tottenham Hotspur FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Brentford FC vs Tottenham Hotspur FC Match Prediction & Analysis

The Premier League returns in earnest with its first fixtures after the World Cup, with the winter international tournament posing a whole host of problems and complications for players and managers alike.

Who knows what condition players will come back in? For those who featured in the World Cup, will they be fit and ready to go, or tired and lacking motivation?

Similarly, for those who didn’t make it to Qatar, how will they have kept up their match fitness over the past five weeks?

Tottenham may be disadvantaged more than Brentford here, due to the number of players they had away at the competition. The likes of Christian Romero will be absent after this World Cup win with Argentina.

And what of Harry Kane? England only made the Quarter Finals but how will his mental state be after missing such a vital penalty?

TEAMS PREVIEW

Brentford FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Beat Manchester City 2-1 in their previous game

     Only had six players away at the World Cup so should be fresher

Reasons to be fearful:

     Only won two of their last nine games

     Only Fulham have conceded more in the top half this season

You feel that Brentford’s season could be on a knife edge in the second half of the campaign. Although they will be pleased with 10th place currently, they rather drifted for their last 10 or so games before the break.

With only two wins from their last nine games, they will need to regain some form in order to maintain their position. There are only six points between them and the relegation zone.

Despite that, they could be the fresher of the two sides here, having seen fewer of their players head to the World Cup compared to their opponents.

None of Saman Ghoddos, Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen, Mikkel Damsgaard, David Raya and Bryan Mbeumo went further than the Last 16 with their teams and should be fit to return here.

Star Man – Ivan Toney

Toney has his own concerns right now, having been charged with betting offences in recent years, meaning he could face a ban in the future. Right now, he’s still Brentford’s best player.

Tottenham Hotspur FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Have scored more and conceded fewer than Brentford this season

     Unbeaten in their three recent meetings with the Bees

Reasons to be fearful

     Had 11 players at the World Cup – most unavailable here

     Three defeats from their last three before the break

Tottenham will be one of the worst-hit in terms of the number of players that went to the World Cup.

Star player Harry Kane went to the Quarter Finals with England, as did Erik Dier, only to miss a crucial penalty. Romero and Lloris were at the final with Argentina.

Perisic, Richarlison and Son all reached the knockout stages with their respective countries. It’ll be interesting to see who is available here, whether they are fit or not.

Manager Antonio Conte will want his players sharp, regardless of who is on the pitch – they have a top-four spot to hold onto, after all. 

They have a good record against Brentford since the Bees returning to the top flight, and they’ll be looking to continue that here.

Star Man – Harry Kane

Is likely to play this one purely because of his mental strength and willpower, despite World Cup heartache. You’d back him to score bags of goals after his international disappointment.