2024/25 Premier League: Matchweek 7 Post-Match Deep Dive – Manchester United vs Brentford

On October 7, 2024, Manchester United secured a 2-1 home win against Brentford in Matchweek 7 of the 2024/25 Premier League, a result that lifts interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side into the top half of the table after a turbulent start to the season. Rasmus Hojlund scored both of United’s goals, taking his league tally to 7 for the season and making him the current leading goalscorer in the division. This deep dive analyzes the match through data, tactics, and fan-focused insights to give readers a clear understanding of what the result means for both sides moving forward.

Match Statistics & Comparison

All data cited in this analysis is sourced from Nowgoal, a leading provider of real-time global football statistics, and readers can access the full raw dataset via live football stats. The first key takeaway from the numbers is that Manchester United’s tactical adjustment under Van Nistelrooy had an immediate impact on their possession control. Before this match, United averaged just 49% possession across their first six league games, but they dominated the ball against Brentford, with 86% pass completion that allowed them to probe consistently in the final third. This improvement in ball control directly led to more high-quality chances, reflected in their xG of 2.14, nearly double Brentford’s total.

Another revealing insight from Nowgoal’s real-time match tracking is that Brentford’s usual strengths were neutralized by United’s adjusted defensive setup. The Bees average 52% of aerial duels won per match this season, but they could only manage 38% against United, which stopped their usual direct playing style from generating consistent chances. The absence of Kevin Schade, who has four goal contributions this season, also left Brentford without their most potent wide threat, leading to just three shots on target all match. Even with a late penalty goal, Brentford never looked likely to equalize after going 2-0 down in the 62nd minute.

Expert Tactical Analysis

Manchester United lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a clear change from the 4-3-3 that Erik ten Hag favored earlier this season. Van Nistelrooy paired teenaged holding midfielder Kobbie Mainoo with Bruno Fernandes in the double pivot, which freed full backs Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to push high up the pitch and provide consistent width. This setup created space for Rasmus Hojlund to operate in the central channel, and he exploited that space with two well-taken finishes, both coming from pinpoint crosses by Fernandes. Dalot finished the match with 89 touches, more than any outfield player on the pitch, highlighting how effective his overlapping runs were against Brentford’s back three.

On the other side, Brentford stuck with their usual 3-4-2-1 formation that has served Thomas Frank well since promotion to the Premier League. However, without Schade, their wing play was ineffective: left wing back Rico Henry could only create one chance all match, and right wing back Mads Roerslev was consistently pinned back by Dalot’s overlapping runs. The tactical battle between the two managers also went Van Nistelrooy’s way. The United interim manager made an attacking substitution in the 58th minute, bringing on Joshua Zirkzee to add another forward and stretch Brentford’s three-man defense. This change led directly to United’s second goal, as a quick counter attack caught Brentford outnumbered at the back. Frank waited until the 70th minute to make an attacking change, by which point Brentford was already 2-0 down, and their late penalty goal was too little to change the outcome.

Practical Fan Tips & Predictions

For fans following the 2024/25 Premier League, here are four key takeaways to use for future matches and fantasy football:

1. Goals prediction trend: 5 of Manchester United’s 7 matches this season have ended with over 2.5 goals, and Hojlund’s current red-hot form means United will continue to create high-quality chances. Fans should expect over 2.5 goals in most of United’s upcoming matches against bottom-half and mid-table opposition.
2. Half-time/full-time trend: 6 of United’s 12 goals this season have come in the final 20 minutes of matches, meaning they consistently start slow and finish strong. Against Brentford, both of their goals came after half-time, extending this trend. Fans should back second-half goals for United in upcoming fixtures.
3. Fantasy football must-pick: Hojlund is currently the Premier League’s leading goalscorer with 7 goals in 7 matches, and he has penalty taking responsibilities for United. With United’s next three matches against Fulham, Ipswich Town, and Leicester City (all in the bottom half of the table), Hojlund is a core asset for any fantasy football team moving forward.
4. Brentford away form warning: Brentford have picked up just 1 point from 3 away matches this season, and their key injury absences have left them short of attacking quality on the road. Fans should not expect Brentford to pick up points in their upcoming away matches against Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Ruud van Nistelrooy be appointed as Manchester United's permanent manager?

After this win, Van Nistelrooy has picked up 6 points from two matches in charge, putting Manchester United up to 8th in the table. Club sources have reported that the board is impressed with the early impact he has made, but they are still expected to make a permanent appointment at the end of the 2024/25 season. For now, Van Nistelrooy will remain in the interim position.

How does this result affect Manchester United's position in the 2024/25 Premier League table?

Before this match, Manchester United was in 12th place with 7 points from 6 matches. The 3 points from this win lifts them to 8th place with 10 points, just 3 points behind the top four, which is the target for Champions League qualification. This result gives them much-needed momentum going into the next international break.

Can Brentford avoid relegation this season after their slow start?

Brentford is currently in 18th place with just 5 points from 7 matches, which puts them in the relegation zone. However, the club has a strong core of players and Thomas Frank is a proven manager who has guided Brentford to solid mid-table finishes since promotion. Most bookmakers still have Brentford as favorites to avoid relegation, with many expecting them to pick up form once their injured attacking players return.