Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Brentford - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 14, 2024 Brentford's Ethan Pinnock in action with Manchester City's Erling Haaland Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -Manchester City recovered to beat Brentford 2-1 and maintain their perfect start to the season after Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland netted twice on Saturday following the fastest goal of the season from the visitors.
Haaland's double takes his tally to nine goals in four games -- more than any English top-flight team has managed so far this season -- while City's victory gave them a three-point lead at the top after Liverpool's 1-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest.
Haaland searched for the third goal which would have made him the first player to score hat-tricks in three straight Premier League games, but Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken made several saves to deny the Norway striker.
Haaland was not expected to feature after the death of a family friend earlier this week but City manager Pep Guardiola said the 24-year-old decided on Friday that he would play.
"Erling in the space is so difficult to control. It was a tough week for him but yesterday it was a bit better, we tried to help him," the Spanish coach said.
Brentford had the perfect start when they scored 22 seconds after kickoff when City defender John Stones and keeper Ederson made a mess of Keane Lewis-Potter's header into the six-yard box, allowing Yoane Wissa to nod the ball into an empty net.
The Bees continued to threaten in attack as they found space on the flanks behind City's defence time and again, but Haaland restored parity in the 20th minute when he scored from a tight angle with his second touch of the game.
Although City had less possession in the first half, they made it count and went ahead when Ederson booted the ball upfield where Haaland outmuscled defender Ethan Pinnock and chipped the ball past Flekken to make it 2-1.
"The second showed what he is all about. He used his body well and a brilliant finish. It is a pleasure to play with him and hopefully he can continue," City's Jack Grealish said.
As City began to dominate after midfielder Rodri made his first appearance of the season as a second-half substitute, it was Flekken who came to Brentford's rescue to keep the scoreline respectable.
He first denied Grealish, who pulled the trigger from 20 metres, before the Dutchman tipped a powerful Haaland shot over the bar. Flekken was called into action again as City counter-attacked when he saved a shot from Savinho.
Brentford did not have the same attacking intent and tempo as in the first half and City secured all three points to move to 12 with the Bees on six after four games.
"Haaland is a fantastic striker, he got a little bit of help today with a deflection and a mistake we don't usually do," Brentford boss Thomas Frank said.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)
