Manchester City moved to within a point of Premier League leaders Liverpool after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game in the 71st minute, becoming the first player to score against all 21 teams he has faced in the top flight.
The Norwegian striker, who had missed a host of chances in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday, latched onto a brilliant through ball from Julian Alvarez and slotted it past Brentford keeper Mark Flekken. Haaland has now netted 17 goals in 19 league games this season, and is the joint-top scorer along with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Brentford, who had beaten City twice last season, put up a spirited resistance and frustrated the hosts for long periods. The Bees defended well and had a few chances of their own, but could not find a way past Ederson. They remain in 14th place, five points above the relegation zone.
Guardiola praises Haaland and Alvarez for decisive moment
City manager Pep Guardiola praised Haaland for his persistence and Alvarez for his vision in creating the decisive moment of the match. He said: “Erling is a fantastic player and he showed his quality again. He never gives up and he always tries to score. He has scored against every team he has played and that is an amazing achievement.”
Guardiola also hailed Alvarez, who made his first Premier League start since joining from River Plate in January. The Argentine winger, who had scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup win over Luton Town, impressed with his pace and skill on the right flank. He set up Haaland’s goal with a perfectly weighted pass that split the Brentford defence.
“Julian is a very talented player and he has adapted very well to our style. He has a lot of potential and he can play in different positions. He made a great assist for Erling and he was involved in many of our attacks. He is a joy to watch and to work with,” Guardiola said.
Frank rues Ajer’s slip and praises Flekken’s performance
Brentford boss Thomas Frank rued the slip by defender Kristoffer Ajer that allowed Haaland to run clear and score. He said: “It was a very unlucky moment for Kristoffer. He is a very good player and he has been very consistent for us. He tried to block the pass but he lost his balance and fell. It was a very small detail that made a big difference.”
Frank also praised Flekken, who made several saves to keep Brentford in the game. The German keeper, who joined from Freiburg in the summer, denied Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling and Kyle Walker with some fine stops. He also made a crucial clearance off the line from Jayden Bobb in the first half.
“Mark was outstanding today. He made some incredible saves and he was very brave and confident. He also helped us with his distribution and his communication. He has been a very good signing for us and he has shown his quality in every game,” Frank said.
City close the gap on Liverpool and Arsenal in title race
The win lifted City to second place in the Premier League table, with 56 points from 23 games. They are one point behind Liverpool, who have played a game more, and one point ahead of Arsenal, who have played the same number of games. City have won nine and drawn one of their last 10 league matches, and have the best defensive record in the division, with only 15 goals conceded.
City will face Brentford again in their next league game, which is their game in hand, at the Gtech Community Stadium on February 5. They will hope to extend their unbeaten run and put more pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal in the title race. City are also still in contention for the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Champions League, as they aim to win a historic quadruple.
Brentford, meanwhile, will try to bounce back from their defeat and move further away from the relegation zone. They have 24 points from 23 games, and are five points above 18th-placed Burnley, who have two games in hand. Brentford have only won one of their last nine league games, and have scored the fewest goals in the league, with 18. They will face Everton at home in their next league game on February 3.