“Unfortunately”- Alan Shearer predicts who’ll triumph between Tottenham and Brentford today
Tottenham Hotspur will be aiming to build on their dramatic League Cup win over Coventry City earlier this week when they face Brentford on Saturday. Spurs narrowly escaped what would have been an embarrassing defeat to the Championship side on Wednesday, thanks to crucial late goals from Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson. Their efforts in the final moments of the match secured Tottenham’s place in the next round, and they’ll be eager to maintain that momentum.
The upcoming clash against Brentford also offers Spurs a chance to recover from their disappointing North London derby loss to Arsenal. Facing another London side, this time Brentford, provides an opportunity for redemption in front of their supporters. Brentford, however, won’t be an easy opponent. The Bees have enjoyed a commendable season so far, notably putting Manchester City under serious pressure last week. Despite their strong form, Brentford have only suffered defeats at the hands of two Premier League giants—City and Liverpool.
The buzz surrounding this match has caught the attention of football pundits, with predictions coming in from all sides. Among them is Alan Shearer, who shared his opinion on the upcoming fixture.
Alan Shearer Predicts a Tottenham Win Over Brentford
Writing for *Metro*, the Premier League legend gave his insights, suggesting that while Brentford will likely cause problems for Spurs, Tottenham should be able to come out on top—especially given the injury to Brentford’s key player, Yoane Wissa. Shearer expressed admiration for Brentford’s recent performance against Manchester City, highlighting how competitive they were, particularly in the first 40 minutes of that game.
“I was hugely impressed with Brentford against Man City, especially in the opening part of the match,” Shearer noted. “They made life very difficult for City, and I expect they’ll do the same to Spurs. Thomas Frank is a manager I really admire. I had the chance to speak with him during the Euros this summer, and I was struck by his intelligence, his approach to the game, and how he communicates with his players. He’s doing a fantastic job at Brentford.”
However, Shearer pointed out that Brentford’s challenge will be even tougher without Wissa, who has been ruled out due to injury. “Unfortunately, it looks like Wissa will be sidelined for a while, which is a huge loss for Brentford. With him out, I’m leaning towards a Tottenham victory.”
Team News for Tottenham and Brentford
In the buildup to Saturday’s match, both sides have provided updates on their squads. Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou addressed the media on Friday, confirming that young forward Wilson Odobert has picked up a hamstring injury. The injury could see him out for a considerable amount of time, although the club is waiting for further assessments to know the full extent. Postecoglou said that Odobert would “definitely be unavailable for the next period,” which could be a significant blow to Tottenham’s attacking options.
Additionally, Spurs will be without Richarlison, who is sidelined with a long-term injury sustained during a training session earlier in September. His absence adds further pressure on the remaining forwards to step up. On a brighter note, both Yves Bissouma and Timo Werner, who had been dealing with minor knocks, have returned to full training and should be available for selection against Brentford.
As for Brentford, their head coach Thomas Frank delivered some positive news on the injury front. Frank stated that there are no new concerns ahead of the trip to Tottenham, giving his side a boost of confidence. He also mentioned that Paris Maghoma is set to return to full training on Monday, while defender Rico Henry will rejoin the squad for part-time training. The biggest uncertainty, however, surrounds Mathias Jensen, with Frank admitting that the midfielder’s recovery timeline is still unclear.
Key Storylines
This match presents several intriguing narratives. For Tottenham, it’s a chance to not only secure three important Premier League points but also to put recent disappointments behind them. The absence of key players like Odobert and Richarlison means that others will need to rise to the occasion, including summer signings like Brennan Johnson, who has shown flashes of promise.
Brentford, on the other hand, will be eager to bounce back from their recent defeats to top-tier teams. With Thomas Frank at the helm, they have the tactical discipline and grit to challenge any side, and even without Wissa, they will be determined to make life difficult for Spurs.
As the pundits continue to weigh in, all eyes will be on how Tottenham respond to the pressure, and whether Brentford can produce another surprise performance against a traditional ‘big six’ side.