Follow live coverage as Brentford face Aston Villa today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Brentford FC 0 - 1 Aston Villa FC
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:34Earning a rare away win - and a scarce clean sheet - Aston Villa hold on to defeat Brentford, whose search for a first home win in 2025 goes on. Of course, ex-Bees striker Watkins scored the decisive goal, lashing the ball straight through Flekken shortly after half-time, following a tepid first half. Rogers then had a second ruled out by the VAR moments later, but Brentford were on top for the final half-hour. The home side fired in numerous crosses, but Villa's defence - led by an all-action Disasi - stood firm and claimed the three points that move Emery's men up to seventh place in the Premier League - just one point shy of the top five. Having managed to win after a European game for the first time since September, the Villans will now prepare for the second leg of their Champions League tie against Club Brugge, which takes place in Birmingham on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Brentford must wait a week before they're back in action, away to Bournemouth. That's all for our live coverage, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:27FULL-TIME: BRENTFORD 0-1 ASTON VILLA
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:24Mbeumo's searching cross from the right wing initially seems to be heading for his strike partner Wissa, but Olsen leaves his line and plucks the ball cleanly out of the air. Is that Brentford's last chance gone?
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:23Yellow Card Nathan Michael Collins
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:23Making his latest in a long line of interventions - fully justifying his selection - Disasi puts the ball behind for a corner-kick. Damsgaard whips it over and into a packed six-yard box, but Norgaard can only brush it with his head. Villa clear their lines.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:22Substitution Morgan Elliot Rogers Donyell Malen
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:21The home fans try to galvanise their team with a cheer as five minutes of stoppage time are indicated. With the direction of play all going towards Villa's goal, Brentford will surely have at least one more chance.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:21Substitution Kristoffer Vassbakk Köpp Ajer Ji-Soo Kim
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:20Brentford's latest cross - this time from the right - is sent too close to Olsen, who safely pouches the ball. He's in no hurry to restart play, as Villa try to run down the clock and claim a rare away win.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:18SAVE! Rogers appears to shove over Damsgaard deep in Aston Villa territory, but the referee allows him to continue. The England forward then picks out Watkins with a fine throughball, and the latter is left clear with space to attack. However, when he reaches the area, his chipped finish is planted straight at the on-rushing Flekken - a tame attempt!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:15After a mad scramble in the six-yard box, in which Olsen fails to deal with the danger, Watkins' clearance only reaches the edge of the area. Finally, Brentford's attack ends when Norgaard slams a shot well wide of the target.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:14SHARP STOP! Olsen denies Schade! The latter is fed by Wissa's layoff following a low cross from the left, but his strike towards the bottom-left corner is kept out! Villa's stand-in stopper makes a vital save!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:12After Cash finally delivers his throw-in, the ball eventually drops for Watkins around 20 yards from goal. With a rather hurried attempt on the turn, he sends his shot well wide of the right-hand post.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:10Victory would move Aston Villa up to seventh place in the Premier League, one point shy of a cherished top-five spot. They are running on fumes now, though, and Brentford look the likeliest side to score.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:10Yellow Card Matthew Stuart Cash
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:09PENALTY CHECK! Another duel between Schade and Disasi ends with the Brentford attacker dropping to the turf inside Villa's box. It seems that he was helped on his way by Disasi's arm, but the referee declines to award a spot-kick. A brief VAR check then decides there's not enough evidence to overturn the original decision.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:07Villa haven't had a single attempt on goal since Watkins scored the opener just after half-time. During this second half, they've also had just a 33% share of possession - can they hold on and claim maximum points?
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:04Back from injury today, Jensen jogs on. He'll take the place of Janelt in midfield.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:04As previously mentioned, the home side are taking a direct approach to getting back on level terms: Brentford have attempted 19 crosses in this match, already higher than their season average of 18 in the Premier League. So far, it hasn't paid off, but they are making Villa work hard now.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:01OFF THE POST! Following a corner-kick, the ball is sent back into Villa's box and then laid off by Wissa. It rolls perfectly into the path of Lewis-Potter, whose scudding low shot bounces back off the left-hand post! So close to an equaliser!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
19:00Again, Disasi dives in to make a vital challenge. This time, Schade races to the left byline and is intent on clipping a close-range shot past Olsen, but the big defender gets back and makes a last-ditch tackle.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:59Under pressure from Wissa near the penalty spot, Olsen manages to punch the ball away from immediate danger. Brentford are sending in plenty of crosses now, keeping Villa pinned back.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:56Digne intervenes with a timely header after Wissa and Schade combine to find Mbeumo in the box, but Brentford are starting to get themselves on top in this second half. Having kept their deficit down to one, they are very much in the contest.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:55Substitution Jacob Matthew Ramsey Marcus Rashford
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:54Yellow Card Kristoffer Vassbakk Köpp Ajer
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:54Tielemans heads away Damsgaard's cross from the left, before Brentford build again. Moments later, Schade is bundled over the byline via a double challenge from Cash and Disasi. A brief claim for a penalty is ignored by the referee.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:52Once again, Olsen is left clutching his lower back in some pain, after catching a wayward cross by Damsgaard and landing awkwardly. While the Villa goalkeeper takes time to recover, Emery is readying another substitute.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:51Wissa sends Lewis-Potter away down the left wing, and he races towards the byline before trying to cut the ball back. Sensing a delay, Disasi intervenes and makes a crucial block at the near post - albeit at the cost of a corner.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:49Substitution John McGinn Boubacar Bernard Kamara
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:48With his strike splitting the sides as things stand, Watkins has scored six goals in his last six Premier League appearances against former club Brentford. He's only netted more against Brighton (seven) in the English top flight.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:47Since keeping a clean sheet in three consecutive home games between April and May last year, Brentford have conceded in each of their last 16 Premier League games at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:46After surviving that scare, Brentford go straight up the other end and win a corner. Damsgaard's inswinging delivery from the left is glanced over by Wissa, whose header loops onto the top of the net.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:44NO GOAL! As Watkins was narrowly offside when Ramsey played him through, the VAR rules out the goal ultimately scored by Rogers, so Brentford have a lucky escape. They almost conceded twice in a couple of minutes there, but it remains 1-0 to Aston Vila!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:41GOAL!!! VILLA STRIKE AGAIN! It's suddenly 2-0 to the Villans! Ramsey again finds space on the left flank, slipping a low pass through to Watkins. This time, the striker picks out Rogers in the centre, and the latter beats Flekken! But was there an offside? The VAR will check - this one looks incredibly close.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:39Assist Oliver George Arthur Watkins
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:38Goal Morgan Elliot Rogers
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:37Assist Jacob Matthew Ramsey
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:34Brentford kick off, and we are back under way at Gtech Community Stadium!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:33Substitution Leon Patrick Bailey Butler Matthew Stuart Cash
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:29Summing up their remarkable decline on home turf this calendar year, Brentford had just two shots in the first half, which is their lowest total in the opening 45 minutes of a home Premier League game since October 2022. Mbeumo and Wissa have been kept quiet so far, while Damsgaard hasn't been able to exert any influence, and it'll be interesting to see if Frank tries something different after the break.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:25Seeking their first home win of 2025, Brentford are being held goalless by Aston Villa at half-time of a rather tepid Premier League encounter. The Bees have barely threatened their visitors, producing just two shots and an xG of 0.12, as they struggled to find any rhythm in the final third. Meanwhile, Villa - between two legs of a crucial Champions League tie - have been far from spectacular; albeit they at least forced Flekken into a couple of saves and have an xG of 0.75 so far. The most notable attempt was from Mings, following a Tielemans free-kick, but Brentford's goalkeeper kept his shot out. Emery has several options available on the bench, so perhaps the visitors will make some changes in pursuit of an increasingly rare away win.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:20HALF-TIME: BRENTFORD 0-0 ASTON VILLA
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:18With little happening on the pitch, it seems that both teams are content with a goalless scoreline at half-time. Villa have had more shots and a slight territorial advantage, but Brentford are having a little more of the ball.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:15After an interminable wait, Bailey finally takes the free-kick, blasting it straight into Brentford's defensive wall. That sums up the lack of attacking quality throughout this first half.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:14Some smart footwork and a typical thrust towards the opposition box sees Rogers earn Villa a 20-yard free-kick. Four players stand around discussing how it'll be taken, as Emery's men have a large playbook of set-pieces to choose from.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:12Yellow Card John McGinn
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:12For the first time, Aston Villa are keeping Brentford pinned back, passing around patiently and searching for any gaps. Can the away side strike before half-time?
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:10Collins comfortably blocks a Watkins shot following Bailey's throughball. The home fans jeer their former player, who finally has a touch in the opposition box. The ex-Bees striker may have been involved in nine goals across his last 13 Premier League games in London, but he's barely had a sniff so far today.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:08CLOSE! Pinnock does well to divert the ball over his own crossbar when Tielemans pops up at the back post, guiding a downward header towards the target. The Belgian midfielder meets Ramsey's looping cross, but Brentford's long-serving defender saves the day!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:06Olsen has been able to play on, and his team launch an attack down the left. Digne's low cross is initially cleared, but Tielemans then bursts into the box and has a powerful cross-shot palmed away by Flekken. It'll be an Aston Villa corner.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:03Some slightly shaky defending from Villa results in Brentford winning another throw-in deep in the final third. From 20 yards out, Lewis-Potter lines up a strike, hitting firmly towards the centre of the goal. Though Olsen fields it easily, he then winces and spends some time rubbing his back - could the Villans' back-up goalkeeper have an injury problem?
Brentford vs Aston Villa
18:02Play resumes with Flekken taking a free-kick that finds Wissa on the left flank. Janelt's subsequent cross can't pick out its target, Pinnock, so Villa get the ball clear.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:59As the time has come for several Muslim players to break their fast, the action is paused and both teams traipse over towards the touchline. Emery and Frank naturally take the chance to issue some instructions.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:57Schade launches in an impressively long throw from the right side, and Mings rises highest to head it away at the cost of a corner. Mbeumo then swings it over, but Villa comfortably clear their lines.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:55Neither side is asserting control in a relatively open contest, which is mostly taking place in midfield. Brentford have had just 41% of the ball, but they are not really under any pressure.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:54While a Brentford win would take them within one point of 10th-placed Aston Villa, Emery's men will pull within two of fourth-placed Manchester City with a victory. As things stand, the Bees are favourites to prevail according to Opta's live win predictor - they have a 43% chance of winning, Villa are on 31%.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:50Schade is left in a heap after colliding with Disasi in midfield and it briefly seems he'll need medical attention. When it becomes clear he won't get a free-kick, the Brentford forward gets back to his feet, and play soon resumes with a drop-ball.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:49SAVE! Mings misses a golden chance to score! Another Tielemans free-kick - this time from the right - beats the Brentford defence, leaving Pinnock out of position. Left unmarked, Mings gets his boot on the dropping ball, but his tame close-range shot is steered straight at Flekken!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:47After Wissa trips Mings midway through Brentford's half, Tielemans clips a floated free-kick up towards Disasi 10 yards out. His first header is partially cleared, before a volleyed follow-up is stopped by Flekken; the flag is then raised for offside.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:44A counter-attack sparked by ex-Brentford defender Konsa ends with Ramsey lining up a curling shot from the left edge of the box. His effort appears to be bound for the top corner, but Collins leaps up and glances a header behind for a corner. The set-piece situation ultimately comes to nothing.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:43Emery will be mindful that his team have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League games after playing a Champions League fixture in midweek. If Aston Villa are to contend for another top-five finish this season, that record must surely improve.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:41After Bailey sees a low shot blocked on the edge of the box, Villa recycle the ball. The visitors keep their hosts penned in for a while, but then allow Brentford to counter. Damsgaard then slips a throughball into the six-yard box and, after a brief scramble involving Olsen, the assistant raises his flag for offside.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:38When Schade races clear down the left side, space briefly opens up for a potential chance to strike. However, a loose touch allows Disasi to steal the ball away. Moments later, McGinn gifts the ball to Wissa inside his own box, but the latter is then crowded out.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:36Tielemans and Norgaard fly into a midfield challenge and both briefly stay down afterwards; fortunately they are quickly back on their feet. Then, Villa's first attack ends with Bailey just failing to keep the ball in play on the right byline.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:34Having won 10 points from their first 12 available away from home in the Premier League this season, Villa have since won just four from a possible 27 on the road. Meanwhile, Brentford's home form has completely switched since December - they've yet to win here in 2025. That makes this game all the more tough to call.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:32Aston Villa kick off, and we are under way in London!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:31The teams are out on the pitch at Gtech Community Stadium, and kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:28Aston Villa are without both first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and in-form forward Marco Asensio, as they make two changes to the team that started in Bruges. While Olsen deputises for Martinez, Ramsey replaces Rashford in attack. Emery is also missing injured midfielders Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:23Brentford boss Thomas Frank makes just one change to the side that drew with Everton at the end of February: Yarmoliuk drops down to the bench, as captain Norgaard returns. Jensen is back on the bench after an injury, but Rico Henry and Sepp van den Berg still feature on a long absence list.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:18SUBS: Oliwier Zych, Matty Cash, Marcus Rashford, Pau Torres, Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Boubacar Kamara.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:13ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Robin Olsen; Axel Disasi, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne; Youri Tielemans, John McGinn; Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey; Ollie Watkins.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:13SUBS: Hakon Valdimarsson, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Yunus Konak, Paris Maghoma, Kim Ji-Soo, Iwan Morgan, Benjamin Fredrick.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:13BRENTFORD (4-2-3-1): Mark Flekken; Kristoffer Ajer, Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, Keane Lewis-Potter; Christian Norgaard, Vitaly Janelt; Bryan Mbeumo, Mikkel Damsgaard, Kevin Schade; Yoane Wissa.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:08Sitting four points above today’s hosts in the table, 10th-placed Aston Villa come into this contest between two legs of their Champions League last-16 tie with Club Brugge. Tuesday’s 3-1 win in Belgium puts the Birmingham side in control before next week’s return, and they recently swept past Cardiff City into the FA Cup quarter-finals. However, Unai Emery’s men were beaten 4-1 by Crystal Palace last time out in the Premier League, where just one of their last seven games has ended in victory.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:08Yet to play this month, Brentford have had over a week to reflect on their 1-1 home draw with in-form Everton last time out. Having previously boasted one of the best home records throughout England’s top flight, the London club have not won a league game at Gtech Community Stadium since early December, losing five and drawing two of their last seven. Conversely, the Bees have claimed maximum points from four Premier League away fixtures since the turn of the year.
Brentford vs Aston Villa
17:08Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Brentford and Aston Villa!
Brentford vs Aston Villa
15:30Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
