Manchester City moved to within one point of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a 1-0 home victory over Brentford on Tuesday, but Brentford made them scrap and claw for every last one of the three points.
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With all three sides now level on 25 games played, the top of the PL table reads as follows: Liverpool (57), Manchester City (56), Arsenal (55). Two points separate three teams, with Man City still to play both Liverpool (away - March 10) and Arsenal (home - March 31).
Sometimes the opening goal comes early and the floodgates open, and sometimes you have to wait, and wait, and wait. Tuesday’s game was an example of the latter as Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken made 10 saves in a nearly man-of-the-match performance. Manchester City were inches from breaking the deadlock in the 36th minute, as they piled one wave after wave of pressure. Pep Guardiola’s side took seven shots in seven minutes (1.18 xG combined), beginning in the 30th, including the first half’s best chance at the tail end.
After Brentford halfway cleared a cross, the ball fell to Oscar Bobb on the left side of the penalty area. Bobb cleverly faked the shot and glided past the out-rushing Christian Norgaard, creating a narrow shooting lane with three defenders and Flekken blocking the way. Bobb finally beat Flekken and the other three Bees on the scene, but a fifth, Ben Mee, snuck in behind the action and booted the ball away just before it crossed the line.
For all of the well-worked chances (25 shots, 11 on target), it would be the simplest, most elementary of them all that finally put the three-time defending Premier League champions ahead. Julian Alvarez played a seemingly innocuous through ball to Haaland, with Kristoffer Ajer on the scene and closing in quickly — until he slipped, and suddenly there was nothing but 50 yards of wide open, green grass in front of him. Haaland raced in on goal and slotted his left-footed finish under Flekken from just outside the box
Haaland briefly thought he had his second goal of the game in the 80th minute, as he headed the ball into an empty net from near the goal line. However, video review revealed that Kyle Walker had strayed inches offside as the first of two brilliant balls diced the defense and teed Haaland up.
Pep Guardiola expects three-horse race for Premier League title to go the distance
What’s next?
Manchester City will continue their quest for a fourth straight title on Saturday (12:30 pm ET), when they visit Bournemouth. Brentford will have nearly a full week to prepare for West Ham away next Monday (3 pm ET).
Player ratings - Manchester City vs Brentford
Manchester City vs Brentford, final score: 1-0
Goalscorers: Erling Haaland (71')
34th minute - GOAL-LINE CLEARANCE - Ben Mee makes a desperate goal-line clearence
Magnificent defending from Ben Mee to deny Oscar Bobb a goal! ❌
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 20, 2024
📺 @USANetwork | #MCIBRE pic.twitter.com/gA3fSevQi7
71st minute - GOAL - Erling Haaland gets in behind, makes it 1-0 after Kristoffer Ajer slips
How to watch Manchester City vs Brentford live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 2:30pm ET Tuesday (February 20)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC.com
Manchester City starting lineup
Ederson — Walker, Dias, Stones, Akanji — Rodri, Silva, Bobb, Alvarez, Foden — Haaland
Brentford starting lineup
Flekken — Zanka, Ajer, Mee — Roerslev, Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon — Toney, Wissa
Manchester City focus, team news
Guardiola will no doubt rotate with Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic all potentially coming into the starting lineup. Kevin de Bruyne was excellent against Chelsea at the weekend and found Haaland on multiple occasions and it’s all about how quickly the latter can get over those big, and very uncharacteristic, misses.
OUT: Jack Grealish (groin), Josk Gvardiol (ankle)
Brentford focus, team news
The Bees made several huge defensive mistakes against Liverpool on Saturday and that’s why they lost. Aside from that they were in the game and created plenty of chances as Neal Maupay and Ivan Toney are extremely dangerous. Onyeka and Wissa could start after their return from AFCON duty, while defensively Thomas Frank has very few options as injuries continue to pile up.
OUT: Bryan Mbeumo (ankle), Rico Henry (torn ACL - out for season), Kevin Schade (adductor), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Josh Dasilva (torn ACL - out for season), Ethan Pinnock (ankle)
