Haaland fires City to smoke the Bees

ERLING Haaland extended his blistering start to the season as the Manchester City striker sealed a 1-0 win at Brentford on Sunday.

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Haaland netted early in the first half in west London to give City their third win in their last four Premier League games. The peerless 25-year-old already has 12 goals in nine appearances in all competitions this season, plus six in two matches for Norway, with Tottenham the only team to have stopped him scoring in the current campaign.

Thanks largely to Haaland's predatory instincts, City survived a second-half dip to move into fifth place in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola's sides are unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions since losing at Brighton in August. City still trail leaders Arsenal by three points but go into the international break with renewed impetus after a slow start to the season.

The only concern for Guardiola was the sight of Rodri being forced off with a first-half injury after appearing to damage his hamstring. The Spain midfielder has struggled to finish games since returning at the Club World Cup in the summer following anterior cruciate ligament surgery.