In the 71st minute, there was joy for Manchester City and heartbreak for Brentford. Thomas Frank’s defensive tactic of 10 points and the hope of scoring a breakaway shot had irritated the champions, who appeared to be lacking in ideas. But then the pure quality of the hosts emerged in the blitz, which saw Rúben Dias find Rodri near their area. He passed the ball to Julián Álvarez, who hit the so far ineffective Erling Haaland. But not now, as going into the race Kristoffer Ajer slipped and the lethal 23-year-old beat Mark Flekken from inside the D to the goalkeeper’s right.
Despite Flekken appearing in City’s half in the 95th minute, the game was over. Haaland’s winner – scoring against all 21 Premier League teams he has faced – takes City one point behind Liverpool and turns their trip to Anfield on March 10 into a seismic clash that gives the winner complete control of their destiny. Strap yourself in for this.
Relating to: Manchester City v Brentford: Premier League – live
Haaland was criticized for missing his chance against Chelsea on Saturday. Pep Guardiola said: “If I had to choose one [to score in then] I choose this. The best strikers score a lot of goals; Don’t criticize, it will shut you up. Sooner or later it is there. He was out for two months, he lost his grandmother [last Saturday week]It is not easy for a person.
“It’s really hard for us [against Brentford]. We lost 6 points against them last season. “In these types of games you need Erling.”
After a heavy downpour for the second consecutive match, the surface was suitably oily for City to touch the ball.
The Premier League’s thrill machine made the most of the two points lost to Chelsea but the draw ensured they remain nine unbeaten in the league; Guardiola’s team was their best in the last three seasons, according to the rankings at the end of May. Now increase your invincibility to 10.
Guardiola opted for a less common 4-2-3-1 with Bernardo Silva alongside Rodri, with the two schemers constantly joining the attack to fill the space around the visitors’ area and make them uncomfortable. As did Haaland as he walked towards Sergio Reguilón, disarmed the defender, turned and aimed at a spotter which Flekken easily collected. Brentford’s goalkeeper then launched himself into a corner to deflect a Phil Foden rocket but this was blocked and Frank’s side escaped.
Chelsea had thrived against City, as so many did, thanks to a slippery run, so it was no surprise to see Frank Onyeka racing down the inside-left channel. The midfielder, who intercepted Yoane Wissa’s pass, needed to be more decisive than the weak effort that Ederson had no problem grasping.
Guardiola dropping onto his hips is a sign of stress and he adopted this position after Onyeka called for a free kick following a challenge from Dias. Reguilón touched the ball to Ivan Toney but the striker’s effort was high. The latter is the proverbial nightmare package of power, control, pace and guile for defenders; As John Stones discovered when he was pushed backwards, sidelined and forced to watch helplessly as the ball was cleared from play.
Brentford were in siege mode as City held almost 70% of the possession. The dam almost broke with Stones’ strike on the running Kyle Walker; His header found Silva but he denied the chance from close range.
Dias also missed Rodri from even closer to the forehead when he picked him out at the far post; This happened after Flekken tipped over a 20-yard Manuel Akanji scoop. Oscar Bobb then showed the composure to drop his shoulder in traffic and fire low and hard, and Ben Mee’s goal-line clearance hugged Flekken.
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All of this was frustrating for City; Because City would have been demoralized if Onyeka’s header had beaten Ederson. On the bench, Kevin De Bruyne was waiting to be called up. Guardiola explained why he stayed there. “We couldn’t use Kevin today because he had a hamstring strain and I didn’t want to take the risk. He’s fine; it was just a precaution but he wasn’t feeling comfortable so after five months off [with a hamstring injury] “We didn’t take any risks,” the manager said.
In the second half, Guardiola took off his jacket as if the quest for victory that would put City on the shoulders of Liverpool was serious business. However, everything he said to his players at half-time went unheeded as Brentford managed to make the contest tight. He shouted against his accusations many times. Foden’s hat-trick two weeks ago was too much for Brentford in the reverse fixture. This time the City was as close to chaotic as it could get. The low point came when Silva took a free kick sideways. Guardiola brought Bobb on in his place in the hope that Jérémy Doku’s searing pace would be the X factor. He lunged at Haaland but the Norwegian’s arm hit Mee, Darren England flew up and City were denied once again.
But Haaland’s 17th league goal of the season turned City’s night into a joyous one. While emotions were the opposite on the red half of Merseyside, Frank found one silver lining in the defeat and said: “His performance gives me hope for the future.”