Brentford vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

Follow all the action from the Brentford Community Stadium as the Red Devils look to head back into the top six

(Action Images via Reuters)

Was this the attitude Cristiano Ronaldo demanded? Whatever about refusing to accept criticism, Manchester United’s new generation refused to accept anything other than victory. It was certainly the response, and the result, Ralf Rangnick and his team needed. On a night when they were often second best to Brentford, and mere days after Ronaldo gave such a pointed interview about the attitude of younger players, three of the club’s youth graduates scored to secure a crucial 3-1 win in the race for fourth. The table looks that bit better for United. The mood is that bit improved.

That’s the spirit of youth, that feels all the more special when another new academy player scores. The 19-year-old Anthony Elanga was no mere detail in adding to United’s long list of historic teenage goalscorers, though. He offered the most important moment of the game at Brentford Community Stadium, brilliantly improvising on a hopeful cross to give United a lead they scarcely deserved.

Neither he or the team looked back. They were instead racing away, especially for the two moments that clinched it. Mason Greenwood slid in the second on the break before substitute Marcus Rashford thrashed in to score his first goal since October. The angry nature of the finish made it seem like Rashford was proving a point.

Follow all the live reaction after Brentford vs Manchester United below:

Brentford vs Manchester United

• Man United starlets provide clinical touch to down wasteful Brentford
• 54’ - Great control and finish from Elanga puts United ahead after hosts spurn several big chances
• 62’ - Greenwood taps in to double visitors’ lead after Fernandes runs from deep
• 77’ - Rashford wraps up the points off the bench by firing high past Lossl
• 84’ - Toney finally bundles one in for hosts after earlier wasted opportunities

[19 January 2022 19:19 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd

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.

[19 January 2022 19:16 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd: Paul Pogba can put himself in shop window as Manchester United contract winds down, says Ralf Rangnick

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.

[19 January 2022 19:12 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd: Head-to-head

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.

[19 January 2022 19:09 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd: Team changes

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.

[19 January 2022 19:00 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd: Line-ups

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

[19 January 2022 18:54 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd: Premier League could bring in new Covid postponement rules

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.

[19 January 2022 18:50 · Michael Jones]

Leicester vs Tottenham: Line-ups

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.

[19 January 2022 18:46 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd: Recent results

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.

[19 January 2022 18:43 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd: Aaron Wan-Bissaka set to miss two more Manchester United games

Manchester United look set to be without Aaron Wan-Bissaka until after the upcoming international break due to illness.

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:

[19 January 2022 18:40 · Michael Jones]

Brentford vs Man Utd: Wan-Bissaka out until February

Ralf Rangnick believes Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to miss the Premier League matches with Brentford and West Ham United. The right-back is still absent through illness that saw him miss the 2-2 against Aston Villa at the weekend.

When asked if Wan-Bissaka might be available to play tonight Rangnick said:

No, not yet. He’s still ill, I’m afraid. He will not be available for the game tomorrow and also probably not available for the West Ham game. Hopefully, after the international break, he will be back for training.”