Manchester City keep title pressure on Arsenal with dominant win over Brentford

Manchester City claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brentford in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts were presented with the first chance two minutes into the game as Jeremy Doku looked to find the far corner, but was denied by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Haaland came close to opening the scoring on two occasions, but Kelleher denied his header from Antoine Semenyo’s cross before producing another save from point-blank range minutes later.

City nearly broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart, but Rayan Cherki’s effort drifted wide. Semenyo fired off target moments later.

The Bees registered their first effort on target when Michael Kayode picked out Igor Thiago, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was equal to his strike.

Doku finally broke the deadlock with a superb curling effort into the top corner to put City ahead on the hour mark.

Phil Foden came close to doubling City’s lead, but Kelleher produced a fine save with his legs.

The visitors appealed for a penalty after Kevin Schade went down in the area under the challenge of Matheus Nunes, but VAR upheld referee Michael Salisbury’s decision to play on.

Haaland doubled City’s lead after 75 minutes, finishing off Semenyo’s pass with a brilliant backheel.

Foden nearly grabbed City’s third after meeting Doku’s pass first time, but Kelleher produced a brilliant save to deny him.

Omar Marmoush wrapped up the scoring for City after being picked out by Haaland, calmly finishing into the top corner in stoppage time.

Thiago came close to scoring a consolation goal for the visitors, but Donnarumma tipped his header onto the bar.

The result keeps City in second place, moving them to within two points of Arsenal, who face West Ham United tomorrow. Brentford drop to eighth, denting their European hopes.