Last Updated on 08/05/2026 by Andy Clark
Manchester City host Brentford at the Etihad on Saturday evening’s televised fixture as Pep Guardiola’s side pushes to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal in the title race.
City sit five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, while Brentford arrive in seventh and are chasing their own European qualification. It’s the basis for a 16/1 bet builder built around City’s relentless goalscoring, the shot output of Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki, and Brentford defender Michael Kayode’s high-volume booking record. Here’s the full preview and tips.
Manchester City vs Brentford Bet Builder Tip
Manchester City vs Brentford Match Preview
Brentford travel to title challengers Man City in Saturday evening’s TV fixture. City are five points behind Arsenal with one game more to play, and they’ll be keen to make up ground on the league leaders before Arsenal play West Ham on Sunday.
City have gone 15 Premier League matches unbeaten, with only two defeats in their last 10 matches in all competitions — both coming against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Brentford are having a decent season and find themselves in seventh in the league. They have lost only twice in their last 10 Premier League matches, with two wins and six draws in that time.
This match has caught the eye of pundits across the board. Chris Sutton predicts a 3-1 City win, Paul Merson backs City 2-1, while Jones Knows is targeting Igor Thiago to score given Brentford’s continued attacking output. The shared theme: goals are expected at the Etihad.
The Tips
BEST BET BUILDER TIP — Over 2.5 goals for Man City @ 1/1
I think the best selection on this bet builder is Manchester City to score more than 2.5 goals. They have scored the most goals in the league this season, with 69 scored in their 34 league matches played. In their last 10 in all competitions, they have bagged 19 goals. In that time, they have scored three or more on three occasions. City will come out all guns blazing this weekend, as they look to stake a claim for the title. I think evens is fantastic odds for them to score three or more at home this weekend.
For more goal-led picks across the weekend, see our daily over 2.5 goals tips and football tips hub.
Antoine Semenyo over 0.5 shots on target — 8/15
Antoine Semenyo has had a good season, both in his time at Bournemouth and since joining Manchester City in January. In all competitions, he has scored 18 goals, with 15 in the Premier League, two in the FA Cup and one in the Carabao Cup. In the league, he has had 38 shots on target in 33 appearances, giving him an average of more than one shot on target per game. I think City will create plenty of chances this weekend, and I think Semenyo will have at least one shot on target.
For dedicated shots on target tips and predictions, check our daily player markets coverage.
ALTERNATIVE BET — Antoine Semenyo to score @ 29/20
With 15 Premier League goals to his name this season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Semenyo score this weekend. At odds of 29/20, taking this selection increases the odds of this bet builder to a very decent 24/1 with BetMGM. For other goalscorer angles across the weekend, see our anytime goalscorer tips.
Rayan Cherki over 0.5 shots on target — 8/13
Rayan Cherki is the second player I’m backing to have one or more shots on target here. The 22-year-old has bagged 10 goals in all competitions this season, with 14 assists giving him an impressive 24 goal involvements. He has had 14 shots on target in the league, an average of just under 0.5 per game. As I said, I expect City to create a lot of chances here in their bid for the title, and I think there’s a good chance Cherki will have one or more shots on target.
Michael Kayode to be booked — 10/3
I think Brentford’s Italian defender, Michael Kayode, is good odds to be carded at 10/3. This season, the right-sided defender has picked up eight yellow cards in all competitions. In the Premier League, he has been carded seven times in 34 appearances, with one in the Carabao Cup. Coming up against City’s formidable front line, I reckon he will be forced into making a couple of fouls at least. 10/3 is good odds for him to pick up his ninth booking of the season this weekend.
For more card-market angles, our yellow card tips page covers daily booking selections across the major leagues.
Combined Bet Builder Odds — 16/1
Pulling the four selections together gives a 16/1 bet builder. £10 returns £170. £5 returns £85.
The bet works because all four selections lean in the same direction — a high-tempo Etihad performance from City:
- City scoring 3+ at home (anchor) — title race urgency drives front-foot football
- Sustained City possession in Brentford’s half feeds Semenyo and Cherki’s shot output
- Both forwards getting on the ball regularly given City’s expected dominance
- Brentford’s defensive line, under sustained pressure, draws fouls from Kayode
The 16/1 price reflects the booking market’s natural volatility — Kayode bookings aren’t guaranteed even given his record — but the underlying logic of the four legs is consistent. For more on bet builder construction, see our daily bet builder tips.
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Jake has been on the thatsagoal.com team for over 5 years, and he is the person responsible for the bet builders across the Premier League and Champions League. His background in journalism means the articles are perfectly written, and each prediction is explained with stats and reasoning to back them up. There have been countless winners from Jake, including a 66/1 win in the FA Cup final when Manchester City were beaten by Crystal Palace.