Erling Haaland now has a record nine goals in Manchester City’s opening four Premier League matches, eclipsing Wayne Rooney’s previous mark of eight in 2011-12. In an invigorating contest the Norwegian’s double claimed the three points to secure a maximum 12 from 12 for the champions.
The goals were met by what seemed a muted celebration after the recent loss of a close family friend, Ivar Eggja, Haaland informing Pep Guardiola only on Friday that he could play.
City’s manager said: “Erling in the space is so difficult to control. It was a tough week for him. In the locker room we try to take care of everyone. If someone has problems we stay close. He is doing what he has been doing for many years perfectly.”
The No 9’s total in City colours stands at a mind-bending 99 in 103 appearances and with the Premier League case against the club commencing on Monday there is zero sign their garlanded players are distracted.
City deny all wrongdoing yet the star acts against Brentford of Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Jack Grealish may all have pondered how their stellar achievements could be affected if any of the 100-plus counts are proved. This victory, though – over the last side to beat them here in normal time, 45 home games ago (Real Madrid won a penalty shootout in April) – began with a scare.
About 20 seconds had expired when Thomas Frank’s men roved upfield. The ball went right and was lifted to the far post; Keane Lewis-Potter headed down, John Stones miskicked, Ederson flailed and Yoane Wissa slid in.
Guardiola met this with a twist away in disgust. A repeat move was nearly sighted when a porous City allowed Bryan Mbeumo in but Rico Lewis thwarted him as he shaped to shoot and now Frank, head in hands, felt despair.
City, roused, peppered their visitors’ goal. Grealish was in old-fashioned wing-play mode driving down his left flank. De Bruyne began to find space. Corners were claimed on the right. The blue wave kept coming and as often occurs it breached the foe.
Mateo Kovacic swept the ball right to Kyle Walker, the full-back feathered it to De Bruyne, an attempted pass found Haaland and a right-footed effort squeezed off Ethan Pinnock and beyond Mark Flekken.
Scoring is simply – and admirably – what Haaland does. Rodri’s expertise at controlling a match is as reliable but watching on from the bench he was missed as the Bees once more punched through City. This was along the hosts’ right and claimed a corner but the champions escaped.
Not Brentford, moments later. This was route-one football the Guardiola way. Haaland stamped forward from just inside his half as Ederson dropped a ball into Brentford’s half. A cute barge removed Pinnock, then Haaland took one, two touches, and sandwedged delicately over Flekken.
Open at the back, City were attacking at full throttle. Grealish crossed for Ilkay Gündogan and Christian Nørgaard hacked away. A Grealish volley at a corner was blocked. Then Wissa limped off after a Kovacic challenge that lodged the Croatian’s name in Darren Bond’s book.
It was no surprise Rodri replaced Kovacic for the second half, with Josko Gvardiol – for Lewis – joining the peerless midfielder. Still a fragility remained as a fluffed Ederson pass out nearly led to a Brentford equaliser.
City reawakened: Rodri found De Bruyne and a delivery from the right gained a corner. From this the ball arrived at Savinho’s toes but he blasted over.
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In what became a compendium of attempts next was a cunning Grealish curler that Flekken pawed away and a right-booted Haaland rocket the Dutchman tipped over. After Gvardiol sprinted in he squared to Savinho and the Brazilian’s shot was repelled by the busy Flekken.
Haaland was inches from equalling Liverpool’s Jack Balmer, the last to score a top flight hat-trick in three successive games – in 1946. But he hit Flekken’s right post. You would, though, not wager against the phenomenon doing this soon.
Brentford and their manager impressed Guardiola. “Thomas is one of the best. It’s a question of time for him, he will get it [a move to a bigger club]. I’m good in a few things but reading when the manager is good I’m good.”
Frank said: “It’s always nice to hear this. Maybe one day I will try something new.”
