Man City v Brentford LIVE: Premier League result as Erling Haaland goal sends City a point off the top

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)

Manchester City FC 1 - 0 Brentford FC

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

22:03 , Luke Baker

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:

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

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:34 , Luke Baker

Erling Haaland completed the set this evening

FULL-TIME! Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:26 , Luke Baker

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.

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:25 , Luke Baker

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.

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:24 , Luke Baker

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

SAVE! Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:21 , Luke Baker

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.

SAVE! Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:20 , Luke Baker

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

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:19 , Luke Baker

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

SAVE! Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:18 , Luke Baker

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.

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:16 , Luke Baker

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.

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:13 , Luke Baker

84 mins: Tight angle for Haaland as he gets half a yard of space on the right and fires across goal but Flekken down to make the save.

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:11 , Luke Baker

81 mins: Bad couple of minutes for Walker as he now gets yellow-carded for clattering Maupay. No ball, all man - stone-wall booking

NO GOAL! Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:09 , Luke Baker

79 mins: And that’s game over, surely! Rodri dinks a ball over the top, Walker at the back post stretches to square it for Haaland to head home from close range. Easy as you like.

But wait! It’s a VAR check. Yep, Walker’s shoulder is marginally offside and the goal is ruled out. Brentford still alive.

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:06 , Luke Baker

78 mins: Changes from Brentford and Janelt and Reguilon come off with Mathias Jensen and Keane Lewis-Potter entering the fray. They’ll try to find a way back into this game.

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:05 , Luke Baker

76 mins: Erling Haaland has now scored against every Premier League team he’s faced after a previous duck against Brentford. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled...

Can City kill this game off for good now?

Man City 1-0 Brentford

21:04 , Luke Baker

74 mins: Brentford look to hit straight back but Toney fires over the bar when well set on the edge of the area.

At the other end, Flekken has a heart in mouth moment when he completely air-kicks an attempted clearance with Haaland bearing down on him but the ball goes under his leg and back into the penalty area where he can gratefully dive on it.

GOAL! Man City 1-0 Brentford (Erling Haaland 71’)

21:00 , Luke Baker

City finally have the breakthrough and who else but Erling Haaland!

It’s been a quiet game for the Norwegian but he takes his chance. Maupay sees a pass intercepted on the edge of the City box and they break at pace. Alvarez slides the ball to Haaland just inside Brentford’s half, Ajer slips and the striker is clean through where he makes no mistake by slotting past Flekken.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:58 , Luke Baker

69 mins: Alvarez wins a corner of Zanka and Flekken punches the cross clear, only to Foden on the edge of the box but his shot is high into the stands.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:57 , Luke Baker

67 mins: Ivan Toney now in the book as he gets a yellow card for a trailing arm on Ruben Dias.

The Bees then make their first sub as Neal Maupay ends his long wait on the sideline by coming on for Yoanne Wissa to bring some additional physicality up top.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:53 , Luke Baker

64 mins: Great work by Haaland to keep the ball in on the by-line before jinking past a defender and completing the pass. Alvarez and Reguilon get into a tangle of legs as they compete for the ball by the corner flag and the free-kick goes Brentford’s way.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:51 , Luke Baker

61 mins: Oscar Bobb’s first Premier League start is over as Jeremy Doku comes on to replace him. Some decent flashes from the Norwegian but like most of City’s attacking players, he’s been frustrated this evening.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:50 , Luke Baker

60 mins: Lovely build-up from City but the Brentford defence stiffens once they get close. Bobb tries to run at men in the box but Zanka nicks the ball away.

Then it’s a yellow card for Wissa as he’s beaten to the ball by Dias and fouls the City centre-back. The free-kick is completely wasted though as Silva slices the ball out of play.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:47 , Luke Baker

58 mins: City free-kick from the left touchline but Dias’s header is comfortably over the bar. Jeremy Doku stripping off and about to come on it seems

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:44 , Luke Baker

56 mins: A bit of a scramble in the City box after a free-kick but the hosts manage to eventually punt the ball clear. The City subs are starting to intensify their warm-ups. Surely not long before we see De Bruyne, Doku et al.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:41 , Luke Baker

52 mins: Walker puts in an early cross but Foden can’t quite control it. The frustration starting to grow for City. Toney then hauled down on halfway by Dias as the Brentford striker relieves the pressure.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:39 , Luke Baker

49 mins: City go for a short corner but they lose the ball on the edge of the area. Brentford stream forward on the counter but the attack fizzles out as Onyeka twists and turns bit his cross is too long and runs harmlessly out of play.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:37 , Luke Baker

48 mins: Walker leaps with Reguilon and lands awkwardly but he’s back up and good to continue. City probing early in this second half but much like the first 45 minutes, Brentford’s defence holding firm.

KICK--OFF! Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:34 , Luke Baker

Back underway in Manchester. Can City find a breakthrough goal?

HALF-TIME! Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:26 , Luke Baker

HALF-TIME! Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:20 , Luke Baker

And that’s half-time! A frustrating opening 45 minutes for City who have peppered the Brentford goal but Mark Flekken between the sticks has been superb to deny them.

The Bees have had some breakaway opportunities themselves but it has mostly been backs to the wall for them

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:19 , Luke Baker

45+2 mins: A first yellow card of the night as a heavy touch from Dias means John STones is forced to slide to try to get to the ball ahead of Wissa but fails to do so, brings down his man and it’s a clear booking for the England centre-back.

Ben Mee then joins him in the book shortly after for kicking the ball away after the whistle goes for offside. Needless for the Brentford defender.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:16 , Luke Baker

45 mins: Two minutes of added time to end this first half.

SAVE! Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:15 , Luke Baker

44 mins: Dias the latest man to test Flekken as he hits the ball first time from 15 yards out but the goalkeeper again equal to it as he dives to his right and pushes it away.

CHANCE! Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:14 , Luke Baker

43 mins: Perhaps Onyeka should do better here. He slips away from his marker and rises high to power a header at goal from 12 yards out but Ederson is able to spring to his right and make the save. Not enough power from Onyeka

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:13 , Luke Baker

42 mins: Backs-to-the-wall stuff from Brentford for the last 10 minutes but they relieve the pressure as Wissa buys a foul off Foden about 30 yards from the City goal.

Reguilon curls the ball into the box but Stones rises high to head clear and danger is averted.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:11 , Luke Baker

39 mins: The City pressure continues and Akanji’s long-range effort is deflected wide for a corner. It has been inswingers all night to put Flekken under pressure but he’s dealt admirably with them so far. The latest from Alvarez is too long anyway and out for a goal-kick.

OFF THE LINE! Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:09 , Luke Baker

37 mins: City not so much knocking on the door but absolutely hammering it down now! Bobb jinks past a defender, gets into the box and fires powerfully at goal. It beats Flekken but it’s OFF THE LINE brilliantly by a covering Ben Mee. Unreal defending from the former City academy prospect!

Somehow this is still 0-0.

SAVE! Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:08 , Luke Baker

36 mins: Decent save from Flekken there as Akanji rips one from 30 yards out and the keeper tips it over the bar. Then another stop! A cross to the back post sees Dias slide in and hook the ball towards goal but Flekken stays big at his near post to save with his feet.

The Bees keeper has been rock solid so far.

CHANCE! Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:06 , Luke Baker

35 mins: City’s best chance of the night but Bernardo Silva heads wide from six yards out. Rodri dinks a ball to an onrushing Walker at the back post, he nods across goal and Silva powers his hear wide of the target with Flekken scrambling. That should be 1-0.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:03 , Luke Baker

32 mins: Bobb again with space down the left. Foden and Haaland haring into the box but the ball is behind Foden and Brentford scramble clear. Foden and Haaland then try some neat play around the edge of the area but the Bees intercept and survive again.

City getting closer to a breakthrough but failing to create that gilt-edged chance so far.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

20:01 , Luke Baker

30 mins: Bobb dinks another ball across and Haaland goes for the acrobatic finish, going airborne and flicking the ball over his head. A long way over the bar though.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:59 , Luke Baker

29 mins: Bobb weaves between a couple of defenders but can’t find Haaland with the pass. City come again and Alvarez shoots from outside the box but his attempt flashes across goal and wide of Flekken’s post.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:57 , Luke Baker

26 mins: Miscommunication between Ajer and Flekken, with the defender putting the ball behind for another City corner.

Brentford can’t clear the initial corner, it falls to Alvarez about 14 yards out but his half-volley is high, wide and not so handsome.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:54 , Luke Baker

23 mins: Brentford look most dangerous, perhaps unsurprisingly, on the counter-attack when they can race through or over the City press. Janelt tries to chase a ball over the top for the Bees after some good hold-up work by Toney but Dias reads it well and comes across to cover.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:52 , Luke Baker

21 mins: Haaland and Silva with some nice interplay around the Brentford box and Roerslev slides in to put the ball behind for a corner.- Flekken comes out and cleanly claims Foden’s inswinging corner. Good take by the Bees keeper.

CLOSE! Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:50 , Luke Baker

19 mins: Onyeka scythed down on the edge of the box by a stray Dias leg and Toney will fancy a look at this free-kick. Between 20 and 25 yards out, slightly left of centre...

Reguilon backheels it and Toney strikes it hard but it’s an inch or two over the bar. Nice set-piece move. Positive signs for Brentford

SAVE! Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:48 , Luke Baker

16 mins: Nice ball down the right touchline from Zanka to Roerslev but light-blue shirts swarm and force Brentford all the way back. A decent spell of possession for the Bees though to take the sting out of Man City.

Then a better chance for Brentford. Gorgeous touch from Wiaaa on halfway as he brings down a lofted pass and then slips Wissa away with a defence-splitting pass. He’s half-clear of the defence towards the elft of the goal but the shot is week and Ederson can stay big to save.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:44 , Luke Baker

13 mins: Foden slips in Walker in the right channel but his cross can’t beat the first man. Better on his next crossing attempt as he fizzes one in low but Norgaard intercepts. City probing as they normally do but lots of red-and-white shirts behind the ball holding firm so far.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:40 , Luke Baker

9 mins: Foden again strikes at goal from distance but Flekken easily down to collect it.

Haaland then gets half a yard of space on the penalty spot and a cross is floated into him but his header goes harmlessly wide. It was a bit too high for him to properly attack.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:38 , Luke Baker

7 mins: First real shot in anger as Foden hammers the ball when to comes out to him on the edge of the box after the corner and it thumps into Wissa. Good strike on the volley by Foden but too many bodies to get it through

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:37 , Luke Baker

6 mins: Brentford not afraid to play out from the back themselves, they’ll try to play through City’s press this evening. It’s worked in the past - they’re the team who have most recently beaten City at the Etihad remember, back in December 2022.

Oscar Bobb gets his first touches on his first Premier League start as he runs at Roerslev, gets to the byline but cuts back and plays the ball to a teammate. Decent start for the youngster. City then win a corner.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:35 , Luke Baker

4 mins: Walker and Reguilon clash near the corner flag and the City man comes out on top. When the ball comes back to him, his cross is deflected straight into the hands of Flekken, however

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:34 , Luke Baker

3 mins: City settling into their patterns of play now. Playing the ball around between Foden, Walker and Rodri.

Strong tackle by Haaland on the right touchline as Reguilon tries to run clear, he cuts inside and curls a shot towards goal but straight at Flekken. Haaland will be desperate to make an impact this evening after missing nine chances against Chelsea.

Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:32 , Luke Baker

2 mins: Decent start by Brentford as they get down the left and pump a ball into the box but City’s defence deal with it. High press from Brentford to try and win the ball back, so City go long.

KICK-OFF! Man City 0-0 Brentford

19:31 , Luke Baker

And we’re underway in Manchester. A big game in the Premier League title race.

Man City v Brentford

19:29 , Luke Baker

The teams are out and we’re not far away from kick-off now. Can Brentford spring a shock and throw a cat among the title race pigeons

Man City v Brentford team news

19:26 , Luke Baker

A reminder of the teams this evening, which includes Oscar Bobb getting his first Premier League start for Man City.

Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, Alvarez, Bobb; Haaland

Brentford XI: Flekken; Ajer, Zanka, Mee; Roerslev, Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Toney, Wissa

Why is Man City v Brentford not on TV?

19:20 , Luke Baker

A reminder that tonight’s match is not on TV in the UK and here’s why.

The game wasn’t selected for TV coverage in the UK in December and was scheduled to be a 3pm Saturday kick-off, which is why it is not available to watch this evening even though it has now been moved to a midweek evening slot.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

Man City vs Brentford stats

19:14 , Luke Baker

A couple of starts ahead of this evening’s game, courtesy of Opta.

• Man City are unbeaten in their last 47 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League (W41 D6) since a 0-1 defeat to Tottenham in May 2010. They have won 26 of their last 27 such fixtures (D1), including each of their last 12 in a row.

• After Manchester City won 3-1 in the reverse meeting earlier this month, Man City v Brentford could become only the third instance of one team beating another twice in the same calendar month in the Premier League, with both of the previous two being achieved by Arsenal (v Bolton in January 2010 and v Wolves in February 2022).

Phil Foden the most likely England player to win Ballon d’Or, claims rival manager

19:09 , Luke Baker

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has backed Phil Foden as the England player most likely to be crowned Ballon d’Or winner.

The 23-year-old scored a hat-trick in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Brentford earlier this month and the Bees manager was wary of a repeat showing ahead of Tuesday’s meeting between the sides at the Etihad Stadium.

Brentford were the last team to beat the defending Premier League champions at their Etihad home, Ivan Toney scoring the late winner in a 2-1 triumph in November 2022.

And they briefly led Pep Guardiola’s side again at the Gtech Stadium 14 days ago before Foden took over to steal the show with three well-taken strikes.

With 15 goals in 35 games so far in all competitions Foden is one short of his best scoring season for City and has featured in all but one of their league games this term.

Phil Foden the most likely England player to win Ballon d’Or, claims rival manager

‘I’m sorry’: Pep Guardiola apologises to Kalvin Phillips for ‘overweight’ comment

19:01 , Luke Baker

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has apologised to Kalvin Phillips for saying publicly that he had returned from the Qatar World Cup overweight.

Guardiola made the comment in a press conference in December 2022 having left the City and England midfielder out of a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool.

Phillips, who joined West Ham on loan in January, earlier this month told the Observer that “after the World Cup was probably the toughest, when Pep came out and said I was overweight”, adding: “I did not disagree with him but obviously I took a big knock on my confidence and how I felt at City.”

Guardiola was asked at a press conference on Monday if he regretted going public about Phillips’ weight, and he said: “Yeah, I’m sorry. Once in eight years is not bad. But I’m so sorry. I apologise to him. I do apologise. I’m sorry.”

Pep Guardiola ‘more than satisfied’ with what he is seeing from Manchester City

18:52 , Luke Baker

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has stressed he is “more than satisfied” with what he is seeing from his team.

Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, secured by Rodri’s late equaliser, brought an 11-match winning run in all competitions to an end for City.

The defending champions are third in the table, two points behind second-placed Arsenal and four behind leaders Liverpool ahead of playing their game in hand when hosting Brentford this evening.

Kevin De Bruyne’s new role exposes cracks in Manchester City’s midfield

18:45 , Luke Baker

When others go backwards, Kevin De Bruyne looks forwards. It can be a description of his passing, a risk-taker often eschewing the safe option in a quest to create. But it is true positionally, too: last season De Bruyne noted that, in the latter years of their careers, many an attack-minded midfielder has retreated into a deeper role.

It was the case with Steven Gerrard, who went from a No 10 to a No 6. Frank Lampard and Cesc Fabregas were often found nearer the base of the midfield than the tip in their footballing dotage. Christian Eriksen spends more time nearer his own penalty box than he used to. Wayne Rooney was the forward who tried to reinvent himself as a midfielder.

Then there is De Bruyne, the midfielder who has become a quasi-forward, the No 10 who could double up as a No 6. Not any more. Pep Guardiola has ruled out using him as a more defensive midfielder. “No,” he said. “He has to be in the final third. He is not there to defend deeper. I want Kevin in the final third because his huge talent is there.”

Read Senior Football Writer Richard Jolly’s full analysis of the issues in Man City’s midfield:

Kevin De Bruyne’s new role exposes cracks in Man City’s midfield

Man City v Brentford team news

18:44 , Luke Baker

So Oscar Bobb gets the start for Man City this evening alongside his Norwegian teammate Erling Haaland, with Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez the other main attacking pivots. Kevin de Bruyne will only appear from the bench.

For Brentford, Ivan Toney starts up top with Yoanne Wissa alongside him. Neal Maupay is among the subs.

Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, Alvarez, Bobb; Haaland

Brentford XI: Flekken; Ajer, Zanka, Mee; Roerslev, Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Toney, Wissa

Man City v Brentford team news

18:35 , Luke Baker

The teams are in and Kevin de Bruyne is benched for Man City but Erling Haaland starts

Pep Guardiola believes Man City’s Rodri is ‘by far’ best midfielder in the world

18:26 , Luke Baker

Pep Guardiola believes Rodri is “by far” the best midfielder in the world but is pleased his performances do not always grab the headlines.

The Spain international was title-chasing Manchester City’s saviour on Saturday as his late equaliser rescued what could prove a vital point in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

It is now over 12 months – against Tottenham on February 5 last year – since City lost a match in which the 27-year-old played.

Yet his Champions League final-winning goal or this weekend’s dramatic leveller aside, he rarely steals the limelight from the likes of Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne. Guardiola admits that is just the way he likes it.

Pep Guardiola believes Man City’s Rodri is ‘by far’ best midfielder in the world

Pep Guardiola backs Erling Haaland after missed chances in Chelsea draw

18:17 , Luke Baker

Pep Guardiola refused to blame Erling Haaland for wasting chances after Manchester City were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Chelsea on Saturday.

The normally prolific Haaland spurned a number of opportunities, including one glaring free header from six yards out, as the champions were held in a compelling Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

City ultimately needed an 83rd-minute equaliser from Rodri to rescue a point after their former forward Raheem Sterling had put the Londoners on course for an unexpected win with a 43rd-minute effort.

Manchester City vs Brentford betting tips: Premier League predictions, odds and free bets

18:10 , Luke Baker

Manchester City have an opportunity to move within one one point of the Premier League summit with a win over Brentford this evening.

This rearranged fixture provides the champions with an opportunity to put the pressure on the Reds, at least until Jurgen Klopp’s side take on Luton Town on Wednesday evening.

City will also be keen to bounce back from the disappointment of being held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea last time out. Had they won that game, they could have taken over from Liverpool by beating the Bees.

Football betting sites are expecting City to pick up maximum points, but is this fixture the foregone conclusion the odds would suggest at the Etihad Stadium?

Here are our predictions and betting tips for the clash:

Manchester City vs Brentford betting tips: Premier League predictions, odds and free bets

Early Brentford team news

18:02 , Luke Baker

Brentford will be without long-term absentees Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade, while Ethan Pinnock is set to be out until late March with an ankle problem.

Brentford predicted line-up: Flekken; Collins, Ajer, Mee; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Toney, Maupay

Early Man City team news

17:55 , Luke Baker

Jack Grealish has been ruled out after picking up an injury in the Champions League win against Copenhagen and Josko Gvardiol is set to be out for two weeks with an ankle injury.

Bernardo Silva should return to the starting line-up after he was also fit to come off the bench in the draw against Chelsea.

Manchester City predicted line-up: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake; Rodri, Nunes; Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland

Why isn’t Manchester City vs Brentford on TV?

17:47 , Luke Baker

Man City’s home fixture against Brentford wasn’t selected for TV coverage in the UK in December and was scheduled to be a 3pm Saturday kick-off, which is why it is not available to watch this evening even though it has now been moved to a midweek evening slot.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

Everything you need to know about Man City v Brentford

17:37 , Luke Baker

Manchester City will be looking to bounce back from dropped points in the Premier League title race as the champions get to play their game in hand against Brentford tonight.

City were in action at the Club World Cup before Christmas so their home fixture against the Bees was moved to this month. Pep Guardiola’s side have therefore been playing catch-up to Liverpool and Arsenal in the title race, but they were held to a frustrating draw at home to Chelsea on Saturday.

Brentford were the last Premier League team to beat City at the Etihad – winning in the last minute in December 2022 - but the champions ended their hoodoo against Thomas Frank’s side with a 3-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium as Phil Foden scored a hat-trick.

Now City can go above Arsenal in the table with a victory and close the gap to leaders Liverpool to just one point. Jurgen Klopp’s side face Luton on Wednesday night but won’t be in action this weekend due to their involvement in the Carabao Cup final.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Premier League fixture

Why isn’t Man City vs Brentford on TV?

Man City v Brentford

17:36 , Luke Baker

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Man City v Brentford in the Premier League.

City can move within a point of league leaders Liverpool if they win their game in hand this evening, so stick with us for full live coverage