Brentford vs Tottenham Preview: Team News & Prediction

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The first Saturday evening game of the 2026-27 Premier League season is a London derby at the Gtech Community Stadium as Brentford face Tottenham Hotspur.

Kick-off date/time: 22 August 2026 at 5:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – NBC

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Peacock & Universo

Brentford preview: Bees get the home crowd buzz

Brentford went through an extremely busy summer last year with several changes to their squad and the loss of manager Thomas Frank but Keith Andrews did well to steady the ship as The Bees nearly finished in the top eight and the European spots.

Some supporters have some concerns over the sustainability of the fairly reactive style of Andrews, playing on the counter-attack and still reliant on set-pieces. However, at home, they know how to ruffle the feathers of most teams.

Tottenham preview: Need to kick on

It remains remarkable that Tottenham Hotspur only survived relegation on the final day of the Premier League season last year. That came a year after they finished 17th again under Ange Postecoglou, a season whereby they actually got fewer points.

Therefore, despite winning the UEFA Europa League in 2025, it has been a miserable couple of years for Spurs but the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi did spark some improvement at the back end of last season and they will hope to kick on this year.

Brentford team news: Couple of injuries

Surprisingly, Keith Andrews remained wedded to a 4-2-3-1 system last season, rather than a back three, and that is expected to be the case again this season, having strengthened the depth of their attacking positions with the signings of Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson.

They do have a couple of absentees for the opening day with Antoni Milambo, who missed the majority of last year due to an ACL injury, sidelined alongside key defender Sepp van den Berg.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Jensen, Yarmolyuk; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago

Unavailable: Van den Berg (Injured), Milambo (Injured)

Questionable:

Brentford's top FPL assets

Caoimhin Kelleher (£5.0m) – Goalkeeper

Kevin Schade (£6.0m) – Midfielder

Igor Thiago (£8.0m) – Forward

Gameweek 1 captain pick: Igor Thiago

Tottenham team news: Quartet are fit

Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porre are unavailable but Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Mateus Fernandes and Dominic Solanke with Mohammed Kudus 'close' to a return.

Long-term absentees include Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert, a well as versatile Senegal international midfielder Pape Matar Sarr.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Fernandes, Tonali; Tel, Gallagher, Moore; Richarlison

Unavailable: Van de Ven (Injured), Porro (Fitness), Sarr (Injured), Kudus (Fitness), Simons (Injured), Kulusevski (Injured), Odobert (Injured)

Questionable: 

Tottenham's top FPL assets

Jan Paul van Hecke (£5.0m) – Defender

Marcos Senesi (£6.0m) – Defender

Sandro Tonali (£5.5m) – Midfielder

Gameweek 1 captain pick: Pedro Porro

Brentford vs Tottenham prediction

With home advantage, Brentford will be expected to get themselves on the front foot to try and get after a Tottenham side that are entering a new era with a lot of optimism. Spurs will be expected to now properly play De Zerbi’s passing style, having been a little more defensive at the back end of last season. Those two factors should mean we are in for a fun game for the neutral in West London, with both teams scoring seeming a decent bet for this one.

Brentford vs Tottenham tip: Both teams to score