Manchester City vs Brentford live commentary: Erling Haaland a doubt in champions' return – kick-off time, team news and how to follow

Manchester City host Brentford this weekend and will be looking to maintain their perfect start to the season, live on talkSPORT 2.

Pep GuardiolaManchester United's men are seeking their fifth consecutive Premier League title and have looked imperious in the early stages of the campaign.

Led by a very sharp Erling Haalandhe Citizens They have scored ten goals and conceded just two in their first three top-flight games.

The 24-year-old has scored more than half of those goals and is looking as good as ever after having had the summer off due to Norway failing to qualify for Euro 2024.

However, after the Death of his father's best friend.Ivar Eggja, who passed away on Wednesday, Haaland could miss the Brentford game due to compassionate leave.

Meanwhile, the Bees They have also made a good start, winning both games at home.

Thomas FrankThe losing side Ivan Toney to Saudi Arabia, but Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo They have impressed from the beginning.

Man City vs Brentford: Big absence

Since Haaland joined City in the summer of 2022, he has destroyed defences across the country.

He has seven goals in just three games this season, with ten shots on target, and After receiving some unusual reviews last year.The Norwegian is back to his best.

However, if he misses this game it would be a huge blow considering he has scored 70 per cent of City's goals so far.

Guardiola was non-committal when asked if Haaland would be in his squad, saying: “It's a difficult time for him and his family.

“Our thoughts are with him and his entire family. Tomorrow we will see if he is mentally and physically fit to play.”

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• Manchester City have won four of their six Premier League games against Brentford (L2), completing the double in both 2021-22 and 2023-24.
• Brentford remain the last team to have won away to Manchester City in any competition, having triumphed 2-1 in November 2022. The Citizens are unbeaten in 45 games at the Etihad in all competitions since then (W38 D7).
• Manchester City have won all three of their Premier League games this season. They have won each of their opening four games of a top-flight campaign on eight previous occasions (1903–04, 1912–13, 1961–62, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2023–24), which is already the most of any club.

Manchester City vs Brentford: Date and how to follow

This Premier League match will take place on Saturday, September 14.

Kick-off at the Etihad is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

talkSPORT 2 will have live and EXCLUSIVE coverage from the blue half of Manchester, with Chris Latcham as presenter.

Then there will be comments from Ian Danter and former Arsenal player Perry Groves.

talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with our dedicated news Premier League Blog.

To tune in to talkSPORT via the website, Click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen through talkSPORT Appon DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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• Since the start of last season, Brentford have lost more Premier League away games (13) than any other side currently in the competition. The Bees have also lost each of their last five away league games against teams who finished the previous season in the Premier League's top four.
• Manchester City have won each of their last 12 Premier League games, all by a margin of 2 or more goals. In fact, under Pep Guardiola alone, the Citizens are responsible for six of the 16 streaks of 12 or more consecutive victories by any club in the history of the English top flight (38%).
• Brentford have won two of their three Premier League games this season (L1), their best start to a campaign in the competition. In the top flight, only in 1946-47 have they won three of their first four games, but that was the only season in which they were relegated.

Manchester City vs Brentford: team news

The hosts could be without Haaland as mentioned, but they will hope to have Phil Foden back from illness.

The England star missed the international break due to a virus but should be in with a chance of playing some part here.

Also, after their excursions to Euro 2024, Rodri He is likely to be fully fit and ready to play his first league game of the campaign.

However, Nathan Ake will be out after being stretchered off during the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Germany in midweek.

Meanwhile, the Bees have plenty of long-term absentees.

Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago are the two who do not have a return date.

Rico Henry has been out for a year with an ACL injury but is close to returning, while Kristoffer Ajer has recovered from a foot problem.

But they are likely to be without Mathias Jensen due to a calf problem.

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• Brentford are allowing their opponents an average of 16.7 passes per defensive action (PPDA) in the Premier League this season, the highest figure of any team and the highest by the Bees in any of their four Premier League seasons so far.
• Erling Haaland has scored seven Premier League goals this season, the most by a player in a team's first three games of a Premier League campaign. The record in a team's first four games of a Premier League season is eight goals by Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2011-12.
• Both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have scored in two of Brentford's three Premier League games this season. In total, they have both scored in the same Premier League game 13 times, at least 10 more than any other Bees duo.
• Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku has carried the ball 747.8m in the Premier League this season, almost 300m more than any other player (Jan Paul van Hecke is second with 457.3m). His 64 progressive carries are also a league record, along with his 17 carries that ended in a throw-in.

Man City vs Brentford: What's been said?

Bees boss Frank praised City and Haaland in his pre-match press conference.

He said: “They are the best in the world.”

“They are very, very good. We have to be good in defence, obviously, press high when we can, really neutralise their key players – they have a lot of them, so it's difficult – and then we have to be brave with the ball and keep it in phases.”

Asked about stopping Haaland, he said: “It's almost impossible! Many teams have tried to neutralise him, but he's a great player.”

“I think his movement in the box is one of the best we've ever seen – the way he anticipates the situation, the way he calculates his movements, he's constantly focused, no matter where the ball is… it's top-class.”