Man City v Brentford LIVE: Premier League result as Erling Haaland goal sends City a point off the top
Man City 1-0 Brentford: Erling Haaland’s second-half goal edged City to victory over the stubborn Bees
Erling Haaland erased any questions about his scoring touch, netting Manchester City’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over Brentford that lifted them into second place in the Premier League table, just one point behind leaders Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s team, unbeaten in their last 10 league matches and finally even in games played with title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, have 56 points, one ahead of Arsenal. Brentford are five points above the relegation zone in 14th.
Haaland, who three days earlier pushed a camera in frustration after missing a top-flight career-worst nine shots in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, was back in form, increasing his league tally to 17 goals.
The Norwegian broke the deadlock in the 71st minute when he sprinted onto a beautiful through ball from Julian Alvarez then stroked it past a slipping Kristoffer Ajer before beating keeper Mark Flekken. Haaland has now scored against every Premier League club he has faced. He has yet to play Luton Town.
The match is not on TV but relive all the action in our live blog below:
Man City 1-0 Brentford
84 mins: Tight angle for Haaland as he gets half a yard of space on the right and fires across goal but Flekken down to make the save.
Man City 1-0 Brentford
81 mins: Bad couple of minutes for Walker as he now gets yellow-carded for clattering Maupay. No ball, all man - stone-wall booking
NO GOAL! Man City 1-0 Brentford
79 mins: And that’s game over, surely! Rodri dinks a ball over the top, Walker at the back post stretches to square it for Haaland to head home from close range. Easy as you like.
But wait! It’s a VAR check. Yep, Walker’s shoulder is marginally offside and the goal is ruled out. Brentford still alive.
Man City 1-0 Brentford
78 mins: Changes from Brentford and Janelt and Reguilon come off with Mathias Jensen and Keane Lewis-Potter entering the fray. They’ll try to find a way back into this game.
Man City 1-0 Brentford
76 mins: Erling Haaland has now scored against every Premier League team he’s faced after a previous duck against Brentford. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled...
Can City kill this game off for good now?
Man City 1-0 Brentford
74 mins: Brentford look to hit straight back but Toney fires over the bar when well set on the edge of the area.
At the other end, Flekken has a heart in mouth moment when he completely air-kicks an attempted clearance with Haaland bearing down on him but the ball goes under his leg and back into the penalty area where he can gratefully dive on it.
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Brentford (Erling Haaland 71’)
City finally have the breakthrough and who else but Erling Haaland!
It’s been a quiet game for the Norwegian but he takes his chance. Maupay sees a pass intercepted on the edge of the City box and they break at pace. Alvarez slides the ball to Haaland just inside Brentford’s half, Ajer slips and the striker is clean through where he makes no mistake by slotting past Flekken.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
69 mins: Alvarez wins a corner of Zanka and Flekken punches the cross clear, only to Foden on the edge of the box but his shot is high into the stands.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
67 mins: Ivan Toney now in the book as he gets a yellow card for a trailing arm on Ruben Dias.
The Bees then make their first sub as Neal Maupay ends his long wait on the sideline by coming on for Yoanne Wissa to bring some additional physicality up top.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
64 mins: Great work by Haaland to keep the ball in on the by-line before jinking past a defender and completing the pass. Alvarez and Reguilon get into a tangle of legs as they compete for the ball by the corner flag and the free-kick goes Brentford’s way.
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