What a title race we have on our hands.

Erling Haaland is back on form in front of goal and Manchester City are breathing down Liverpool's necks.

How will Jurgen Klopp's side respond?

Fortunately, we don't have to wait long to find out.

See you for Liverpool against Luton on Wednesday.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We were perfect, we were just unlucky. The players deserve so much praise for a top defensive performance. We only gave two chances away before the goal. We were very good defensively.

"I thought we really created some dangerous situations that lacked the final spark.

"The Wolves game was very good defensively in many ways. We needed the top level again defensively so we stepped forward. We are back on track I would say.

"We can't give Erling Haaland a chance like this. We kept him quiet besides that."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Pep Guardiola at the news conference:

When I was young, I was never ever a journalist. Top strikers score a lot of goals, don’t criticise, he will shut your mouth. Sooner or later he is there.

He was out for two months, he lost his grandmother, it is not easy for a human being.

We spoke about the moment (missing chances against Chelsea) and I realised this later, but he didn’t say anything about the passing away of his grandmother.

In this type of game like Brentford, you need Erling. Today we could not use Kevin de Bruyne because he had niggles in his hamstring and I didn’t want to take the risk.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City stretched their unbeaten home run in all competitions to 35 games, while they’ve found the net in each of their last 54 at Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Man City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was difficult and always will be against Thomas [Frank]. We made a good first half, the second was not so good. We were patient and we didn't concede much.

"If someone doubts Erling [Haaland] then he will do his job. You make a mistake. He's an incredible player.

"It's a long way. Still many games. Of course, it's better to win. We missed the opportunity against Chelsea. I'm so proud of the team. We are closer but we are in the real part of the season. Tough, tough games in this period. We are there.

"I think three teams maybe and add someone in the next weeks, I don't know. I'm pretty sure Arsenal and Liverpool will be there at the end."

Dostoyevsky: One point off the top. Just think if we actually start playing…

Brentford

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford manager Thomas Frank: "I’m incredibly proud. We didn't give much away until the goal – which is a slip. I think they’re good enough – they don’t need that luck to get over the line.

"In the second half we were completely in control defensively. I think we were close to getting something. We’re back to that high-level defensive urgency. It seems that the margins aren’t going our way, but we’ll keep believing.

"We feel really hard done by with injuries. We’ve been giving too many goals away. This is the standard, and it’s a slip from us that gives the biggest chance to the best striker in the world.

"I’m very pleased with the defensive side and the work-ethic."

Image source, .

Key games to come...

Sunday, 3 March

Man City v Man Utd (15:30)

Sunday, 10 March

Liverpool v Man City (15:45)

Sunday, 31 March

Man City v Arsenal (16:30)

Wednesday, 3 April

Man City v Aston Villa (20:00)

Saturday, 6 April

Man Utd v Liverpool (15:00)

Saturday, 13 April

Arsenal v Aston Villa (15:00)

Saturday, 20 April

Tottenham v Man City (15:00)

Saturday, 27 April

Tottenham v Arsenal (15:00)

Saturday, 4 May

Liverpool v Tottenham (15:00)

Saturday, 11 May

Aston Villa v Liverpool (15:00)

Man Utd v Arsenal (15:00)

All times GMT

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "They’re such a difficult team. This season we lost six points [against Brentford]. They have the ability with Ivan Toney – he’s a master player, a really good player. Other than that they’re really good at free-kicks, throw-ins and so on.

"We had a lot of chances considering how difficult it is to play against them, and we’ve won our game in hand. The performance was really good, once again, and I’m happy for the result.

"I think we had less chances in the second half than in the first. We struggled a little bit in the second half."

"The players, for years, have done incredible things, and they’re still doing it."

On Erling Haaland: "He’s been injured a long time. He’s always a threat in these situations. We need these types of players."

Brentford

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka: "It's a disappointing one. I thought we did well but we couldn't get the win.

"We tried to defend as a team and counter-attack. That was the game plan for us. The coach asked me to join the attack when I could.

"It’s sad that we didn’t get anything out of the game but we’ll take the positive parts into the next game."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

After failing to convert a succession of chances he would normally snaffle without a thought in the draw against Chelsea at the weekend, Erling Haaland seemed like a man on a mission from the first whistle.

In the opening minutes he dropped deep to collect possession, overhit a pass to Julian Alvarez, chased after it himself, then, as Brentford tried to play out, bullied Sergio Reguilon off the ball by the touchline before charging towards the edge of the box and driving in a shot that Mark Flekken saved.

Not long afterwards, the league's top scorer sent an acrobatic effort over the bar.

While there may have been disappointment at not scoring on either occasion and understandable frustration at the limited number of sights at goal that followed as Brentford attempted to keep him quiet, there was always the sense that if anyone was going to break the deadlock it would be Haaland.

Image source, Reuters

Toby: Good effort Brentford. Feel for Mark Flekken at the end - but at least he was willing to try for a goal (as well as saving them at the other end of course).

Manchester City

Image source, Rex Features

Erling Haaland has now scored against all 21 teams he’s faced in the Premier League - he’s just the second player to have faced more than one side and scored against all of them in the competition, after Harry Kane.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Man City midfielder Oscar Bobb, speaking to PLP: "We were up against a very good team and we had some good chances that usually we would score. It was a tough opponent."

On Erling Haaland: "He's the best in the world. He's only three years older than me but it's crazy to play with one of the greats."

On first Premier League start: "It was great. Another step and I'm very happy with the win."

On belief: "With the players who have been there and done it, you can't be around better players with the spirit in the squad."

Manchester City

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji: "It wasn’t easy. We scored a goal on the counter-attack. The defender slipped early and the efficiency was there [from Erling Haaland]. He scored a great goal.

"We know how hard it is to play against Brentford, with their back five. That’s why we tried to attack and we didn’t run into too many counter-attacks. I can’t remember too many big chances they had.

"After the weekend we had to show a reaction and I feel we did that. Now we have to improve game by game."

On Haaland's goal: "I was just thinking: ‘Please score!’ The second chance we had, we failed to finish the game. Unfortunately the keeper made a save, but we got the win."

Leary: It's going to be a great season. Man City not firing but to maintain what they have done year on year is amazing.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Reuters

While the result was not exactly harsh on Brentford given Manchester City's dominance, the manner of it was unfortunate. Thomas Frank's side were much more organised than they were in the heavy defeat against Liverpool at the weekend.

However, with six points from their last 11 games, they are only five points off the relegation zone and still searching for the sustained improvement that will get them away from trouble.

Click here to read Simon Stone's match report.

Lewis: Yep, this title race is definitely going down to the final game.

The Treble is still on for Manchester City.

One point behind Liverpool - who host Luton on Wednesday - in the table, an FA Cup fifth round tie next week and 3-1 up against FC Copenhagen in the last-16 of the Champions League.

This could be another incredible season for Pep Guardiola and his players.