- Yoane Wissa nodded home from close range in the first minute of the match
- Erling Haaland produced two fine finishes to turn the game in City’s favour
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Erling Haaland’s one-man assault on the record books gave Manchester City fans a welcome distraction from drier subjects like financial charges and independent commissions.
With City falling behind after only 22 seconds, Haaland – playing despite the death of close family friend Ivar Eggja – scored twice before the interval to ensure normal service was resumed.
The second half was pure theatre as the Norwegian’s mission to become the first player since 1946 to score three consecutive hat-tricks in the top flight of English football was thwarted by goalkeeper Mark Flekken and the woodwork.
Though City’s No9 failed in that particular target, his brace did set a new Premier League record of nine goals in the first four matches of a season – surpassing Wayne Rooney. It also left City as the only team with a 100 per cent top-flight record this season with Liverpool slipping up at Anfield.
In football terms, nobody would bet against Pep Guardiola’s side winning a fifth consecutive league title. The only cloud on the horizon is the major financial case starting on Monday in which the club are defending 115 alleged breaches of Premier League rules. Potential punishments if found guilty include a major points deduction.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City came from behind to beat Brentford
Haaland levelled the scores midway through the first half with a neat finish on the turn
The striker then went through on goal and dinked it over the keeper to put his side in front
The champions made it four wins from four as they continued their early season dominance
That is for next week. On Saturday, there was enough entertainment on show to forget about what may be.
After the Etihad had paid tribute to former manager Sven Goran Eriksson, Brentford – still the last opposing team to win at City almost two years ago – started at dizzying speed.
In the opening minute, Kristoffer Ajer’s cross was headed back into the danger area by Keane Lewis-Potter. Ederson and John Stones got in each other’s way and Wissa gleefully took advantage.
Pep Guardiola muttered furiously and remarkably Brentford could have added a second.
Rico Lewis denied Wissa with a block, Ederson saved a Nathan Collins header on the line and Bryan Mbuemo then went close to connecting with an overhead kick.
With Stones, Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan all starting their first games of the season, it was perhaps understandable for City to discover their normal rhythm. With Kevin De Bruyne and Haaland in tandem, it was only a matter of time before it did click.
Haaland had only touched the ball once before levelling after 19 minutes.
Walker advanced and squared to De Bruyne in the box. The Belgian’s pass squeezed through to his partner-in-crime and the outcome was inevitable, Haaland turning sharply to crash a finish into the corner via a nick off Ethan Pinnock.
The striker then took his City tally to 99 goals in 103 games just after the half-hour.
Ederson’s long pass left his centre-forward in a race with Pinnock, the pair bumping backs to leave the Norwegian clear to cooly dink the oncoming Flekken.
Brentford gathered around referee Darren Bond to protest a foul but VAR saw no reason to intervene.
Yoane Wissa stunned the home crowd when he nodded home a rebound in the first minute
Wissa celebrates with his team-mates after breaking the deadlock in just 22 seconds
Wissa limped off at the end of the first half after being caught on the ankle by Mateo Kovacic and Guardiola, seeking more control, made two half-time changes with Rodri introduced for his first action since winning the Euros with Spain.
Haaland tried his damnedest to notch a historic treble. One fizzing shot was tipped over the bar by Flekken. Another, from De Bruyne’s pass, thudded off the upright and when Haaland fired the rebound, Collins blocked heroically.
Flekken also saved from Grealish and Savinho to keep City’s advantage down to one goal, leaving some home nerves until the final with Mbuemo still looking dangerous on the break.
City are about to begin their biggest match of the season in front of an independent commission, one they say they are confident of winning.
On the pitch, without a single Premier League loss in 2024, they do look unbeatable – even when giving the opposition a goal start.
