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

Pep Guardiola is satisfied with what he’s seeing from Manchester City in the title race

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 v Brentford - Premier League updates

• Man City narrowly beat Brentford 1-0 in the Premier League thanks to Erling Haaland’s goal
• City move a point behind Liverpool and a point ahead of Arsenal in the three-way title race
• REPORT: Erling Haaland completes his set to help Man City avoid fatal slip-up
• FULL-TIME! Man City 1-0 Brentford
• 79’ - NO GOAL! Haaland has second goal ruled out as Walker narrowly offside (MCI 1-0 BRE)
• 71’ - GOAL! Haaland finishes well when clean through to finally break deadlock (MCI 1-0 BRE)
• 37’ - OFF THE LINE! Mee brilliantly clears off the line from Bobb’s shot (MCI 0-0 BRE)
• 35’ - CHANCE! Silva heads wide from six yards out (MCI 0-0 BRE)

[20 February 2024 22:03 · Luke Baker]

Erling Haaland completes his set to help Man City avoid fatal slip-up

As Erling Haaland completed the set, Manchester City may have got back on track. Their bid for a historic fourth consecutive title threatened to be derailed in four days, the loss of four points in successive home games beckoning.

Enter Haaland. He had scored against 20 of the 21 opponents he had faced in the Premier League. Only Brentford had denied him, just as Brentford frustrated City for 70 minutes here. But, 10 days earlier, Everton held out for 70 minutes at the Etihad Stadium, too, conceded to Haaland in the 71^st and lost. To the annoyance of City’s title rivals, history repeated itself.

There was a nod to the more distant past, too, to another three-way battle at the top a decade ago. Kristoffer Ajer’s costly loss of balance will not be the most famous slip in a title race – Steven Gerrard still boasts that dubious honour – but City emerged triumphant in 2014. If they do so again in 2024, they may thank a Norwegian besides their top scorer: the luckless Brentford defender.

Full report from Richard Jolly at the Etihad Stadium:

[20 February 2024 21:34 · Luke Baker]

Man City 1-0 Brentford

Erling Haaland completed the set this evening

[20 February 2024 21:26 · Luke Baker]

FULL-TIME! Man City 1-0 Brentford

And that’s it! Not hugely convincing from City but they scrape an all-important 1-0 win thanks to Erling Haaland’s neat finish late on. They’re up to second in the Premier League table, just one point behind Liverpool.

(AFP via Getty Images)

[20 February 2024 21:25 · Luke Baker]

Man City 1-0 Brentford

90+6 mins: Goalkeeper Flekken up for the corner. It almost falls to him second time round and he takes a wild swing at the ball but half-volleys Rodri instead as the City midfielder gets there first. A yellow card for Flekken and that should be just about that.

[20 February 2024 21:24 · Luke Baker]

Man City 1-0 Brentford

90+5 mins: Long throw by Brentford as they search for an equaliser and Haaland heads it behind for a corner

[20 February 2024 21:21 · Luke Baker]

SAVE! Man City 1-0 Brentford

90+3 mins: Foden again in space down the left, twisting Zanka with a little stepover, cuts back to Haaland around the penalty spot but his shot is weak and straight at Flekken.

[20 February 2024 21:20 · Luke Baker]

SAVE! Man City 1-0 Brentford

90+2 mins: Foden looks like he has to score. Nicks the ball away, drives forward at pace into the box, takes the ball past Flekken and looks set to slide it into the net but Flekken at full stretch is able to push the ball wide. He didn’t over-commit, forced Foden wide and got his reward

[20 February 2024 21:19 · Luke Baker]

Man City 1-0 Brentford

90 mins: Into six minutes of added time. City seeing this out comfortably

[20 February 2024 21:18 · Luke Baker]

SAVE! Man City 1-0 Brentford

89 mins: Flekken again called into action. Foden sees space open up in front of him, thumps one at goal and Flekken leaps to tip over the bar.

Some final subs as Roerslev and Onyeka off for Brentford, with Mikkel Damsgaard and Saman Ghoddos on, while Mateo Kovacic comes on for Alvarez.

[20 February 2024 21:16 · Luke Baker]

Man City 1-0 Brentford

87 mins: Doku jinks on the edge of the area looking for space, feeds Foden but the ball is nicked away from him. City mostly just stroking the ball about, refusing to give up possession and killing this game off.