Premier League reaction: Can Man City challenge for the title this season?

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Craig Nelson

BBC Sport reporter

Can Manchester City win the Premier League for the seventh time in nine seasons under Pep Guardiola?

Well, with their track record, you wouldn't put it past them, would you?

One thing you can be sure about, defending champions Liverpool will not give up their title without a fight.

And it looks like a title fight is exactly what they face.

We will come to table-toppers Arsenal in a moment, but what should we make of Liverpool's three consecutive defeats over the past week?

A brief wobble, a mini-crisis or something deeper than that?

And what does manager Arne Slot need to do to turn it around?

Get in touch with your thoughts using the Get Involved button at the top of this page.

'We can do better...and I love that'

Brentford 0-1 Man City

Manchester City

Potentially the most chilling aspect of the weekend, from the perspective of the Premier League's title challengers, was the positively giddy mood Pep Guardiola approached his Friday news conference.

At times last season the Manchester City boss looked to be weighed down by the club's problems, but he seems to have slowly - and with some notable acquisitions in the transfer market - managed to dig himself and his team out of the hole they were in.

They head into the international break in a positive frame of mind after going unbeaten in six matches.

And the Spaniard thinks things can only get better for his team: "The most happiest feeling is how we have improved. I love that feeling. And the feeling that I think we can do better.

"That is the feeling that I like as a manager. The feeling we are creating again - the tempo, the pace. Everything is a little bit more fluid and consistent. But we can do better and I love that."

Tell me one club who wouldn’t want Haaland as a dream - Guardiola

Brentford 0-1 Man City

Manager Pep Guardiola knows a good thing when he sees one.

“Can you tell me one club who wouldn’t want Haaland as a dream?”, he said even before the Norwegian striker's matchwinner at Brentford on Sunday

“I understand it’s a dream for all the clubs in the world, if he wasn’t at City it would be a dream to have Erling.

“He has a long contract here and is doing very well, scoring a lot of goals."

On whether other clubs are interested in signing his star striker, Guardiola added: “I think Erling’s not stupid enough to sign something he doesn’t want to accomplish, but football, who knows what will happen?"

'I'm really proud of everyone'

Brentford 0-1 Man City

Interestingly, Erling Haaland spoke in depth after Sunday's victory about how well Manchester City defended their one-goal lead against Brentford and the part he played in that.

“Of course we prepare for what’s going to come,” Haaland told the club website.

“We knew long throws were going to come, long balls whenever possible were going to come and you could see we were prepared.

“Everyone knew it and we did really well, solid at the back and of course another massive game from the big Italian [Gianluigi Donnarumma] in goal.

“Of course it feels good, you get a small break and to help the team defending as well. I think defending and attacking, it’s of course a team sport and we need to stick together and we did.

“I’m really proud of everyone.”

Kane and Haaland show their quality

Brentford 0-1 Man City

Erling Haaland's start to the season may have been fast but his pace has been bettered by England captain Harry Kane.

Kane currently has 18 goals for Bayern Munich in all competitions after just 10 games so far this campaign.

The 32-year-old recently became the fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for a club playing in one of Europe's top five leagues in just 104 games, beating the record held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Haaland, who did it in 105.

Whilst Kane picked up one goal for England against Serbia in September to take his combined total for the season to 19, Haaland scored six goals in two games during the last international break for Norway, putting him on 18 for club and country.

Eye-watering numbers.

FYI, according to the Ballon d'Or awards, Viktor Gyokeres is the best striker in the world after winning the Gerd Muller trophy.

Guardiola on Rodri's 'muscular' injury

Brentford 0-1 Man City

The sight of Manchester City's midfield lynchpin Rodri limping off in the first half at Brentford cast a shadow over the result.

Pep Guardiola later confirmed that the Spanish international will not be sidelined for longer than "two or three weeks".

The 29-year-old midfielder missed the vast majority of last season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and looked cresftallen on Sunday as he left the pitch.

"It's muscular," Guardiola confirmed. "Of course I don't want to lose him even a little bit - it is a pity because he is such an important player. We tried to take care of him, but it is what it is."

The City boss also pointed to questions he faced from journalists before the game about why he had taken off Rodri with 30 minutes to play in their Champions League game at Monaco, where they conceded a late equaliser.

"I remember the press conference [asking] why I substitute Rodri in Monaco. 'Why do this, why do that?' I would love to have Rodri every three days but after one year it happens all the time, it is so demanding. That is why we tried to be gentle, play 60-65 minutes but it cannot happen more."

'Our game is getting better and better'

Brentford 0-1 Man City

Manchester City offered arguments for and against their Premier League title credentials in 90 minutes of football at Brentford on Sunday.

They hit the levels manager Pep Guardiola expects in a commanding first half, but after failing to add to Erling Haaland's early opener, they left themselves open to a Brentford equaliser in the second half.

But, overall, the City boss was happy with what he saw, and said he believed they were getting "better and better": "It has been a good month, since the Manchester United game. Many things I like. I know there are things we can do better but they made a fantastic first half, one of the best in many months.

"Problem is in the Premier League if you don't score a second and a third they can push more.

"In the second half they pushed more and they are the team that runs in behind and throw-ins and stuff so it is not easy.

"We are there. Our game is better and better."

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