Sports
Brentford vs Fulham: Premier League – LIVE!
Tonight’s west London derby is one of the most hotly-anticipated of all time as ninth hosts seventh in the Premier League for a match-up of two genuine European contenders.
Brentford have not lost a league game since October in a 12-game run that has propelled them into the top half of the table, comfortably dismissing any pre-season talk of second-season syndrome under Thomas Frank. Only leaders Arsenal have got the better of the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium in the league this campaign.
Yet Fulham have been very impressive themselves, the newly-promoted Cottagers parking themselves inside the European places ahead of this capital clash having won four of their last five in all competitions. The big question ahead of kick-off for Marco Silva’s side tonight is whether Aleksandar Mitrovic will recover from injury in time to start. Follow Brentford vs Fulham live via Standard Sport’s match blog!
Live updates
Brentford vs Fulham: Countdown to kick-off
Team news coming up shortly!
How will the Bees get on?
It’s been 16 long days since Brentford were last in action, with a 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace.
That’s because their opponents last weekened were involved in the Carabao Cup and the midweek FA Cup action did not involve the Bees – with Fulham playing twice since their last game.
Perhaps a spot of rustiness for the home side to overcome, then.
Tonight’s destination
Gtech Community Stadium has been a very happy hunting ground for the Bees this season, with only Arsenal gaining a Premier League victory over Brentford on the banks of the M4.
However, adding cup competitions into the mix and their home record in 2022-23 is a fairly meagre W6 D5 L3.
Goes to show you can contort statistics to tell any story you fancy!
Brentford vs Fulham: Countdown to kick-off
Team news should be coming in the next 20 or so minutes from west London.
How will Fulham cope without Joao Palhinha? Will Aleksandar Mitrovic start?
The Bees are in the house
Throwback: A League Cup win for the Bees in 2020
Evening Standard score prediction
This is a tasty derby showdown under the lights between two sides that continue to confound modest expectations.
Brentford tend to be a force to be reckoned with when that unique home stadium is packed and rocking, though Fulham fear no one this season and have the excellent Mitrovic back leading the line.
An entertaining draw not short on goals, incident and pacy attacking football is what we’re forecasting.
Brentford 2-2 Fulham.
Predicted Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Lukic; Solomon, Pereira, Willian; Mitrovic.
Early Fulham team news
Fulham have been dealt a sizable blow by the absence of star summer signing Joao Palhinha, who will serve a two-match suspension after accumulating 10 yellow cards.
The influential Portuguese midfielder will also miss the visit of Arsenal to Craven Cottage next weekend.
Layvin Kurzawa, Neeskens Kebano and Tom Cairney are also out, though talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic is fit after starting the 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round win over Leeds on Tuesday.
Predicted Brentford XI (4-3-3): Raya; Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Henry; Dasilva, Norgaard, Jensen; Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa.
