Manchester City are now second placed in the English Premier League title race following a Erling Haaland vital 71st minute goal at the Etihad Stadium against 14th placed Brentford.

23-year-old Haaland kept his cool and put one past Brentford’s shot-stopper Mark Flekken with a precise finish.

This being the Norwegian’s 22nd goal of the season it means he has now scored against every Premier League opponent he has faced.

Pep Guardiola warned Erling Haaland’s critics “he will shut your mouth” after the prolific Norwegian boosted Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes.

“With top scorers or strikers who score a lot of goals, don’t criticise because he will shut your mouth, that’s for sure,” said Guardiola. “Sooner or later, he is there.

“Definitely, if I have to choose one [player to be running through on goal], I choose this one.

“He was out with injury for two months and is not in his best shape and just had an incredibly tough week because he lost his grandmother. That is not easy for a human being.”

However, with six points from their past 11 games, Brentford 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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