Brentford predictions: Bees buzzing for better campaign

- Brentford are preparing for a fourth Premier League campaign
- The Bees finished 16th in the top flight last term
- Recommended bet: Top-10 Finish

Brentford dropped from ninth in 2022-23 to 16th last season but there were never really any fears of relegation for Thomas Frank's men.

Last season

It was a tough season for the Bees, who were ravaged by injuries. They always looked far too good to go down, but it was a lack of consistency which cost them a shot at the top half.

Talisman Ivan Toney missed the first half of the season, a period during which Brentford had gone as high as ninth following a 3-2 win over West Ham.

They finished the season strongly with only two losses in their last nine, Yoane Wissa finishing top scorer with 13 league goals.

Manager

Thomas Frank is quite simply a legend at Brentford after guiding them to promotion in 2020-21 and keeping them in the Premier League for three straight seasons.

His success means Frank is constantly being linked with bigger jobs, most recently the vacant England post.

Transfers

It has been a quiet and perhaps a frustrating transfer window at the Gtech Community Stadium

A club record £30m was spent on Brazilian striker Igor Thiago from Club Bruges, but the 23-year-old has been ruled out until the end of the year after undergoing knee surgery.

They are also poised to complete a £10m raid for Napoli's Swedish midfielder Jens Cajuste.

Club record scorer Ivan Toney remains a target for several clubs, with the Bees keener than ever to keep him following Thiago's injury.

Strengths and weaknesses

You won't find 'team spirit' in any coaching manual but it has been a crucial commodity for Brentford during their three years in the top-flight, a togetherness that almost helps this team overachieve year on year.

Where they are strong is from set plays — at both ends. They carry a threat from good delivery offensively, while only four teams conceded fewer goals than the Bees from corners and free-kicks last term.

Using the pace of their frontmen in quick transition is also critical, especially on the counter.

Brentford like to squeeze the pitch when defending but the higher the wing-backs go the more susceptible they are when they lose the ball in wide areas.

Best outright bet

It is no surprise that Brentford start the season with injuries — that plagued them last season and Frank is keeping his fingers crossed that absences are less plentiful this time round.

What has been clear over the last three seasons is that this Brentford side are too good to go down having been 11, 25 and 13 points clear of the bottom three in each of their three seasons in the top division.

A lack of action in the transfer market might see that gap narrow a bit further but the 5/1 with LiveScore Bet that they are relegated makes no appeal. And one or two more signings would improve them significantly.

Since their injury crisis is not as bad as before and there are, quite plausibly, three top-10 places up for grabs, the Bees at 3/1 to finish in the Top 10 with LiveScore Bet looks decent value.

Back Brentford to finish in the top 10 at 3/1 with LiveScore Bet