ERL'S GOOD AS GOALD

Champions pile pressure on Kop at the top

- DAVID MCDONNELL

ALL great strikers have an acute sense of timing - as Erling Haaland proved last night.

Manchester City's star striker had been anonymous for much of this game, thwarted by Brentford's discipline and resilience in nullifying his threat.

But the best forwards need only one chance to turn a game and Haaland's came with 19 minutes left when he was presented with a first real sight of goal.

Much had been made of Haaland's goal drought, with two goals in seven appearances, but the Norwegian front-man showed his enduring class with a clinical finish to seal three points.

Victory took City up to second place, a point behind leaders Liverpool, who can extend their lead at the top with victory over Luton at Anfield tonight.

Had City failed to win for the second home game in a row, it would have handed Liverpool the chance to put some daylight between themselves and Pep Guardiola's Treble winners.