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Neil Johnston
All times stated are UK
Goodbye
What a title race we have on our hands.
Erling Haaland is back on form in front of goal and Manchester City are breathing down Liverpool's necks.
How will Jurgen Klopp's side respond?
Fortunately, we don't have to wait long to find out.
See you for Liverpool against Luton on Wednesday.
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
'We are back on track'
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Brentford
Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We were perfect, we were just unlucky. The players deserve so much praise for a top defensive performance. We only gave two chances away before the goal. We were very good defensively.
"I thought we really created some dangerous situations that lacked the final spark.
"The Wolves game was very good defensively in many ways. We needed the top level again defensively so we stepped forward. We are back on track I would say.
"We can't give Erling Haaland a chance like this. We kept him quiet besides that."
'He will shut your mouth'
FT: Man Citty 1-0 Brentford
Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium
Pep Guardiola at the news conference:
When I was young, I was never ever a journalist. Top strikers score a lot of goals, don’t criticise, he will shut yourmouth. Sooner or later he is there.
He was out for two months, he lost hisgrandmother, it is not easy for a human being.
We spoke about the moment (missing chances against Chelsea) and I realised this later, but he didn’tsay anything about the passing away of his grandmother.
In this type of game like Brentford, you need Erling. Today we could not use Kevin de Bruyne because he hadniggles in his hamstring and I didn’t want to take the risk.
Post update
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Manchester City
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Manchester City stretched their unbeaten home run inall competitions to 35 games, while they’ve found the net in each oftheir last 54 at Etihad Stadium.
'Arsenal & Liverpool will be there at the end'
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Manchester City
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Man City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was difficult and always will be against Thomas [Frank]. We made a good first half, the second was not so good. We were patient and we didn't concede much.
"If someone doubts Erling [Haaland] then he will do his job. You make a mistake. He's an incredible player.
"It's a long way. Still many games. Of course, it's better to win. We missed the opportunity against Chelsea. I'm so proud of the team. We are closer but we are in the real part of the season. Tough, tough games in this period. We are there.
"I think three teams maybe and add someone in the next weeks, I don't know. I'm pretty sure Arsenal and Liverpool will be there at the end."
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Dostoyevsky: One point off the top. Just think if we actually start playing…
'Margins aren't going our way'
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Brentford
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Brentford manager Thomas Frank: "I’mincredibly proud. We didn't give much away until the goal – which is a slip. I think they’re good enough– they don’t need that luck to get over the line.
"In the second half we werecompletely in control defensively. I think we were close to getting something. We’re back to that high-level defensiveurgency. It seems that the margins aren’t going our way, but we’ll keepbelieving.
"We feel really hard done by with injuries. We’ve been giving too manygoals away. This is the standard, and it’s a slip from us that gives thebiggest chance to the best striker in the world.
"I’m very pleased with thedefensive side and the work-ethic."
Tight at the top
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
.Copyright: .
Key games to come...
Sunday, 3 March
Man City v Man Utd (15:30)
Sunday, 10 March
Liverpool v Man City (15:45)
Sunday, 31 March
Man City v Arsenal (16:30)
Wednesday, 3 April
Man City v Aston Villa (20:00)
Saturday, 6 April
Man Utd v Liverpool (15:00)
Saturday, 13 April
Arsenal v Aston Villa (15:00)
Saturday, 20 April
Tottenham v Man City (15:00)
Saturday, 27 April
Tottenham v Arsenal (15:00)
Saturday, 4 May
Liverpool v Tottenham (15:00)
Saturday, 11 May
Aston Villa v Liverpool (15:00)
Man Utd v Arsenal (15:00)
All times GMT
'The players are doing incredible things'
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Manchester City
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "They’resuch a difficult team. This season we lost six points [against Brentford]. Theyhave the ability with Ivan Toney – he’s a master player, a really good player. Otherthan that they’re really good at free-kicks, throw-ins and so on.
"We had a lotof chances considering how difficult it is to play against them, and we’ve won our game in hand. The performance was really good, onceagain, and I’m happy for the result.
"I think we had less chances in the secondhalf than in the first. We struggled a little bit in the second half."
"The players, for years, have done incredible things, and they’re still doing it."
On Erling Haaland: "He’s been injured a long time. He’s alwaysa threat in these situations. We need these types of players."
'We'll take the positives'
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Brentford
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka: "It's a disappointing one. I thought we did well but we couldn't get the win.
"We tried to defend as a team andcounter-attack. That was the game plan for us. The coach asked me to join the attack when Icould.
"It’s sad that we didn’t get anything out ofthe game but we’ll take the positive parts into the next game."
'A man on a mission'
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
After failing to convert a succession of chances he would normally snaffle without a thought in the draw against Chelsea at the weekend, Erling Haaland seemed like a man on a mission from the first whistle.
In the opening minutes he dropped deep to collect possession, overhit a pass to Julian Alvarez, chased after it himself, then, as Brentford tried to play out, bullied Sergio Reguilon off the ball by the touchline before charging towards the edge of the box and driving in a shot that Mark Flekken saved.
Not long afterwards, the league's top scorer sent an acrobatic effort over the bar.
While there may have been disappointment at not scoring on either occasion and understandable frustration at the limited number of sights at goal that followed as Brentford attempted to keep him quiet, there was always the sense that if anyone was going to break the deadlock it would be Haaland.
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Toby: Good effort Brentford. Feel for Mark Flekken at the end - but at least he was willing to try for a goal (as well as saving them at the other end of course).
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FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Manchester City
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Erling Haaland has now scored against all21 teams he’s faced in the Premier League - he’s just the second player to havefaced more than one side and scored against all of them in the competition,after Harry Kane.
'Haaland is the best in the world'
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Manchester City
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Man City midfielder Oscar Bobb, speaking to PLP: "We were up against a very good team and we had some good chances that usually we would score. It was a tough opponent."
On Erling Haaland: "He's the best in the world. He's only three years older than me but it's crazy to play with one of the greats."
On first Premier League start: "It was great. Another step and I'm very happy with the win."
On belief: "With the players who have been there and done it, you can't be around better players with the spirit in the squad."
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SMS Message: It has to come down to Arsenal and Liverpool playing Man City. Whoever slips up and drops points and the other wins, it all changes. from Oliver
It has to come down to Arsenal and Liverpool playing Man City. Whoever slips up and drops points and the other wins, it all changes.
'We had to show a reaction - and we did'
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Manchester City
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji: "It wasn’t easy. We scored a goal onthe counter-attack. The defender slipped early and the efficiency was there[from Erling Haaland]. He scored a great goal.
"We know how hard it is to play againstBrentford, with their back five. That’s why we tried to attack and we didn’t run into too manycounter-attacks. I can’t remember too many big chances they had.
"After the weekend we had to show a reaction and I feel we did that. Now we have to improve game by game."
On Haaland's goal: "I was just thinking: ‘Please score!’ The second chancewe had, we failed to finish the game. Unfortunately the keeper made a save, but we got the win."
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Leary: It's going to be a great season. Man City not firing but to maintain what they have done year on year is amazing.
Post update
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
While the result was not exactly harsh on Brentford given Manchester City's dominance, the manner of it was unfortunate. Thomas Frank's side were much more organised than they were in the heavy defeat against Liverpool at the weekend.
However, with six points from their last 11 games, they are only five points off the relegation zone and still searching for the sustained improvement that will get them away from trouble.
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Lewis: Yep, this title race is definitely going down to the final game.
Post update
FT: Man City 1-0 Brentford
The Treble is still on for Manchester City.
One point behind Liverpool - who host Luton on Wednesday - in the table, an FA Cup fifth round tie next week and 3-1 up against FC Copenhagen in the last-16 of the Champions League.
This could be another incredible season for Pep Guardiola and his players.
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