Manchester

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Erling Haaland showed immense mental strength to set aside his grief at the death of a close family friend this week to score both goals for Manchester City in their victory against Brentford.

The contribution takes Haaland onto 99 City goals. Few would argue against him reaching his century against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Even at a club where Sergio Aguero seemed to score every week, Haaland is taking the art to another level.

There was almost disappointment at his failure to score a third successive hat-trick - even though it had not been done by anyone in England's top flight since 1946.

If Haaland carries on, he will eclipse Aguero's club record of 260 within three seasons.

He has nine Premier League goals already. The next on the list has three.

Might as well give him the Golden Boot again now.

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland has scored nine goals across Manchester City’s first four league games this season – the most of any player in the opening four matches of a Premier League campaign (overtaking Wayne Rooney in 2011-12 - eight in first four).

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola after victory over Brentford: "I am a big fan of Thomas Frank. I don't remember in eight or nine years have a team playing the way they played. We were lucky with the deflection because they deserved 1-0.

"We struggled a lot to read when to shoot and press. We were lucky to find the goals but in the second half we were better and probably deserved to score more goals.

"We needed that to feel how difficicult everything is, how difficult the Premier League is every game.

"People say City so strong but the Premier League is so difficult. Today was the real proof.

"I am a big fan of Brentford. They play long balls but they have ability to play as well. I give a lot of credit to my players, from where we come from in the past but to still be able to suffer. I prefer to win that way than four or five nil. We need that."

On Haaland: "Erling in the space is so difficult to control. It was a tough week for him but yesterday it was a bit better, we tried to help him."

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Erik ten Hag spoke to BBC Match Day after Manchester United's victory against Southampton: "The start was not easy. I think the penalty was the turnaround in the game and not so far after we scored and that was very important. From that moment on, the game was all ours."

On how Matthijs de Ligt has done: "I'm not surprised. At this moment he is not fit, he's not 100% speed. He needs the games to go up to it. We see glimpses now and once he's there he will do much better. We are happy with him and especially today with his game."

On what Marcus Rashford's goal: "It's very important. For every striker, they want to be on the scoring list. Once the first is in, more is coming. Once a striker was talking about a ketchup bottle, once it's going, it's coming more."

On Manuel Ugarte: "He didn't work with the team, it was two sessions, one before the break and yesterday. He was the only one later into the team training so only yesterday he had 20 minutes training with the team. We were happy we could bring him today and show what he could deliver to our team."

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Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

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Manchester United bolstered their defence in the summer by bringing in Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich, and this performance was just what the player and the Red Devils will have wanted to see.

During the international break he was taken off at half-time while playing for the Netherlands against Germany in the Nations League.

Initially, his struggles continued into this game as he found it difficult to cope with Southampton's dynamic forward line.

But his headed goal to give Manchester United the lead at Southampton appeared to do him the world of good as he became more assured in defence as the game wore on.

Finishing with a clean sheet provides a decent platform for both him and Manchester United to build on as they look to put a mixed start to the season behind them.

There are eight Premier League games on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction throughout the day.

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week four, he takes on Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi from jazz band Ezra Collective, the 2023 Mercury Music Prize winners.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Brentford have been a bogey team for Manchester City in the past and Bees boss Thomas Frank knows how to beat them, that's for sure - he did the double over them in 2022-23.

That is not going to happen this time, though. I refuse to put Erling Haaland in my fantasy team on principle, because the whole nation has picked him, but he is just unstoppable at the moment and City should win this one comfortably.

City don't usually hit their stride so early in a season. If this is them just warming up, then god help the rest of the Premier League.

Koleoso's prediction: 3-1

I know Brentford won here a couple of years ago but that was when they had Ivan Toney up front. I really hope I am wrong, obviously, but City will win.

Ogunjobi prediction: 3-0

No Toney, and Haaland is an absolute monster for City.

Read the full predictions and have your say here