Man City v Brentford LIVE: Premier League result as Erling Haaland goal sends City a point off the top

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has apologised to Kalvin Phillips for saying publicly that he had returned from the Qatar World Cup overweight.

Guardiola made the comment in a press conference in December 2022 having left the City and England midfielder out of a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool.

Phillips, who joined West Ham on loan in January, earlier this month told the Observer that “after the World Cup was probably the toughest, when Pep came out and said I was overweight”, adding: “I did not disagree with him but obviously I took a big knock on my confidence and how I felt at City.”

Guardiola was asked at a press conference on Monday if he regretted going public about Phillips’ weight, and he said: “Yeah, I’m sorry. Once in eight years is not bad. But I’m so sorry. I apologise to him. I do apologise. I’m sorry.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has stressed he is “more than satisfied” with what he is seeing from his team.

Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, secured by Rodri’s late equaliser, brought an 11-match winning run in all competitions to an end for City.

The defending champions are third in the table, two points behind second-placed Arsenal and four behind leaders Liverpool ahead of playing their game in hand when hosting Brentford this evening.

When others go backwards, Kevin De Bruyne looks forwards. It can be a description of his passing, a risk-taker often eschewing the safe option in a quest to create. But it is true positionally, too: last season De Bruyne noted that, in the latter years of their careers, many an attack-minded midfielder has retreated into a deeper role.

It was the case with Steven Gerrard, who went from a No 10 to a No 6. Frank Lampard and Cesc Fabregas were often found nearer the base of the midfield than the tip in their footballing dotage. Christian Eriksen spends more time nearer his own penalty box than he used to. Wayne Rooney was the forward who tried to reinvent himself as a midfielder.

Then there is De Bruyne, the midfielder who has become a quasi-forward, the No 10 who could double up as a No 6. Not any more. Pep Guardiola has ruled out using him as a more defensive midfielder. “No,” he said. “He has to be in the final third. He is not there to defend deeper. I want Kevin in the final third because his huge talent is there.”

Read Senior Football Writer Richard Jolly’s full analysis of the issues in Man City’s midfield:

So Oscar Bobb gets the start for Man City this evening alongside his Norwegian teammate Erling Haaland, with Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez the other main attacking pivots. Kevin de Bruyne will only appear from the bench.

For Brentford, Ivan Toney starts up top with Yoanne Wissa alongside him. Neal Maupay is among the subs.

Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, Alvarez, Bobb; Haaland

Brentford XI: Flekken; Ajer, Zanka, Mee; Roerslev, Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Toney, Wissa

The teams are in and Kevin de Bruyne is benched for Man City but Erling Haaland starts

Pep Guardiola believes Rodri is “by far” the best midfielder in the world but is pleased his performances do not always grab the headlines.

The Spain international was title-chasing Manchester City’s saviour on Saturday as his late equaliser rescued what could prove a vital point in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

It is now over 12 months – against Tottenham on February 5 last year – since City lost a match in which the 27-year-old played.

Yet his Champions League final-winning goal or this weekend’s dramatic leveller aside, he rarely steals the limelight from the likes of Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne. Guardiola admits that is just the way he likes it.

Pep Guardiola refused to blame Erling Haaland for wasting chances after Manchester City were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Chelsea on Saturday.

The normally prolific Haaland spurned a number of opportunities, including one glaring free header from six yards out, as the champions were held in a compelling Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

City ultimately needed an 83rd-minute equaliser from Rodri to rescue a point after their former forward Raheem Sterling had put the Londoners on course for an unexpected win with a 43rd-minute effort.

Manchester City have an opportunity to move within one one point of the Premier League summit with a win over Brentford this evening.

This rearranged fixture provides the champions with an opportunity to put the pressure on the Reds, at least until Jurgen Klopp’s side take on Luton Town on Wednesday evening.

City will also be keen to bounce back from the disappointment of being held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea last time out. Had they won that game, they could have taken over from Liverpool by beating the Bees.

Football betting sites are expecting City to pick up maximum points, but is this fixture the foregone conclusion the odds would suggest at the Etihad Stadium?

Here are our predictions and betting tips for the clash:

Brentford will be without long-term absentees Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade, while Ethan Pinnock is set to be out until late March with an ankle problem.

Brentford predicted line-up: Flekken; Collins, Ajer, Mee; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Toney, Maupay

Jack Grealish has been ruled out after picking up an injury in the Champions League win against Copenhagen and Josko Gvardiol is set to be out for two weeks with an ankle injury.

Bernardo Silva should return to the starting line-up after he was also fit to come off the bench in the draw against Chelsea.

Manchester City predicted line-up: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake; Rodri, Nunes; Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland