Man City 0-0 Brentford – Premier League LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as champions struggle to make breakthrough in bid to keep up with Liverpool and Arsenal

Honours even at the break.

It took the game a while to get going, but it did so after Pep Guardiola told the restless crowd to calm down.

Manchester City have had six shots on target, and they came closest through Oscar Bobb – making his Premier League debut – who saw a strike magnificently cleared off the line by Ben MEE.

Brentford have also shown their strength on the counter-attack, getting in behind on several occasions.

This match is perfectly poised, which way will it go?

Another yellow card and this is a silly one from Ben Mee.

He decides it’s a good idea to try and score an amazing volley, but he does so way after the referee has blown the whistle.

The first yellow of the game has been shown and it is to Manchester City’s John Stones.

He takes out Yoane Wissa but did seem to get a bit of the ball.

Mark Flekken is called upon again to save from Ruben Dias.

It was an important save as City worked it well towards the Portuguese centre-half who got hold of it well.

You don’t normally see him there, but it was a good strike.

Brentford respond with an attack of their own and Ederson is needed to stop a good Frank Onyeka header.

It was a good save, but one that you would expect him to make as Onyeka was quite far out. He did get some good power behind that though.

The Bees are still giving it a good go.

Oh, Oscar Bobb…I thought he had broken the deadlock.

He does incredibly well in the box to find space before firing past Mark Flekken, however, Ben Mee somehow gets there to clear it off the line.

You can’t get much closer than that, it was an incredible clearance.

I feel a goal is coming for City.

The chances are starting to come more frequently now.

This time Mark Flekken is called into action to stop Manuel Akanji’s long-range effort.

City are knocking at the door.

It’s brilliant play from Manchester City, and they should be 1-0 up, but Bernardo Silva heads agonisingly wide.

The Portuguese midfielder meets Kyle Walker’s cross-box header and really should score in my opinion.

The pressure is ramping up here.

Here I am saying Manchester City need to do better, while Pep Guardiola seems happy with what he has seen, so far.

I think he may understand his team a little more than me to be fair to him.

That one was always rising.

The ball comes out to Julian Alvarez following a corner and he whallops it miles over the bar.

These chances are important ones for City, they haven’t been easy to come by, so far.

I think he has to do better there.

Man City haven’t got quite going yet.

The atmosphere feels flat in the Etihad, and what the fans are seeing on the pitch isn’t helping.

Brentford have looked the more threatening so far in this one.

That is so close from Ivan Toney!

Brentford are proving to be threatening and Toney nearly nets a ferocious effort from an indirect free-kick, but it whistles slightly over the bar.

I thought that was going in…

Brentford love a counter-attack, they displayed that a lot against Liverpool, and they could have a lot of fun with Manchester City’s high line today.

There have already been a couple of instances where they have looked to get in behind, if they can get it right, they could punish City.

As I type this Frank Onyeka races in but his effort is saved low by Ederson – another warning sign.

Of course, after I say that, Brentford come flying forward.

I thought Yoane Wissa was in for Brentford there after Ivan Toney slid in a beautiful ball behind the Manchester City defence, but Johns Stones nips the ball out of his path with a brilliant sliding tackle.

It’s a vital tackle, Wissa looked like he was in.

Phil Foden loves a goal against Brentford, and he nearly got another one here.

Manchester City cause chaos from a corner as Mark Flekken punches straight to Foden who unleashes a ferocious effort that is goal-bound, but it’s blocked well.

It’s been all City so far, Brentford have barely touched the ball.

We have our first shot on target in the game and no winners for guessing who it comes from.

Erling Haaland does well to shrug Sergio Reguilon off the ball on the right-hand side before trying to bend one in from miles out. Mark Flekken collects it with ease.

You sense Haaland will have a lot of shots tonight, he is keen for a goal.

The conditions really aren’t great out there. I imagine there are going to be a few slips on that pitch.

City need to win to go second, and Brentford want to go eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Both are in their usual home strips, this will be a good one.

The Etihad is still looking pretty empty at the moment, did people think it was going to be an 8pm kick-off? I know I’ve made that mistake before.

Either way, the Pyro has started, and the teams are now coming out.

Let’s hope they both put on a show for us, eh!

Erling Haaland was visibly disgruntled following Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday.

The Norweigan striker had an unusual off-day at the weekend. He had several big chances against the Blues, but just couldn’t find the back of the net.

He will be wanting to put that right tonight, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back with a bang today.

You can’t keep him quiet for long, usually.

It’s a very interesting match-up tonight at the Etihad, but what is going to happen?

Can Oscar Bobb impress in his first Premier League start this season? Will Ivan Toney haunt City again?

There are so many ways this one could go.

Let us know your predictions in the comments.

Well, Neal Maupay has been dropped to the bench tonight, so we may have to wait a little while to see him come up against Kyle Walker.

In Brentford’s 3-1 loss in the reverse fixture earlier this month, both Maupay and Walker had a heated altercation.

It sparked a lot of anger from Walker, and the England international had to be calmed down by Pep Guardiola.

It is sure to be tense if these two do meet on the pitch today.

Read more about what happened, below.

Brentford’s record against Manchester City has been pretty good in recent times.

The Bees did the double over Pep Guardiola’s men last season – the only team to manage that feat last campaign – and their special win at the Etihad in November 2022 was one of their best in recent times.

Ivan Toney netted twice, including a 98th-minute winner, to stun the Manchester City crowd into silence. It didn’t end up affecting City’s treble-winning season, however, if there is a similar result tonight, it may have a bigger impact.

Brentford fans, I bet that day was one of the best you have experienced in the Premier League, it was truly special, the away end descended into mayhem – in a good way.

Can they do it again? I’m not sure, personally.

There has been no need to settle back in since Ivan Toney returned to the game in January.

Many questioned how well the English striker would fare when he stepped foot back on the pitch following his eight-month suspension, and I think he has answered those questions pretty well.

Toney has netted four goals in five games since his return, an impressive record, but who is the one team he has not managed to score against in that time?

The answer is… Manchester City.

He will be hoping to put that right tonight, we know how well he did last time he played at the Etihad.

Manchester City’s squad have arrived at the Eithad and they seem in good spirits.

They will know how important tonight is for them and their hopes of a fourth consecutive Premier League title.

How does that song go again? I know all the England fans know it!

The lyrics that are used eulogising Manchester City’s number 47 along to the tune of ‘Freed from Desire’ by Gala are sung for good reason. He is brilliant.

Foden has truly indeed been on fire this season, racking up 25 goal involvements in all competitions this season, with eight of his goals coming in the league.

Three of those came against Brentford earlier this month and I wouldn’t be surprised if he added more to his tally tonight.

He is an elegant footballer, I’m excited to see him play once again!

Yoane Wissa is back in a Brentford starting XI.

He starts up top alongside Ivan Toney as one of three changes to the Bees side who lost 4-1 to Liverpool at the weekend.

Nathan Collins is one of those to have dropped to the bench following their poor defensive display against the Reds.

Mathias Jorgensen aka Zanka comes in for Collins and Frank Onyeka also starts.

And here is the confirmation.

Pep Guardiola has gone bold, making three changes from the team that drew with Chelsea at the weekend.

Oscar Bobb is the big one, but Bernardo Silva and John Stones also come in for Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku.

What can this team do then!

We have some big early team news for you!

Jack Gaughan, North West Sports Reporter:

Young winger Oscar Bobb is in from the start for City tonight as Guardiola looks to make a few changes.

What do you make of this then, it’s a big decision from Pep Guardiola. Oscar Bobb has shown what he can do in other games for Manchester City, a proper young talent.

Can he make an impact for them tonight?

We have two reporters at the match tonight, Jack Gaughan and Aadam Patel, and the latter has just arrived at the Eithad.

From the photo he has provided, it is looking rather grim in Manchester tonight, I hope everyone has their raincoats.

I for one, love football in the rain, so it doesn’t bother me.

We will have to see how the players cope, though.

You might be thinking, why can’t I find tonight’s game on the television?

Well, both this evening’s fixture and tomorrow night’s game between Liverpool and Luton will be unavailable to watch in the UK.

Both fixtures have been rearranged to this week, with tonight’s original date being postponed due to City’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup – which they won.

Don’t fear though, you have somewhere to follow the game, and that’s right here. You’re going to have to read what I have to say, I hope that’s ok…

The weekend just gone did not quite go to plan for Manchester City.

Yes, they didn’t lose, but dropping points at home to Chelsea has put Liverpool back in the ascendency for the title in this captivating three-way race.

Tonight is a chance for Pep Guardiola’s side to respond with a statement win. After Saturday’s 1-1 draw, they look dejected, but they will need to be back firing on all cylinders tonight.

It is very rare for City to not respond, so I fully expect them to put on a show tonight.

However, Liverpool and Arsenal fans will be praying for another slip-up.

Both Manchester City and Brentford will be looking for a win after dropping points at the weekend.

For City, tonight is a chance to close the gap between them and Liverpool to just one point, and after they drew 1-1 with Chelsea on Saturday, it is certainly needed.

Brentford were brutally dismantled 4-1 by the league leaders in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off. Their defending is going to have to be miles better tonight if they are to have any chance against Pep Guardiola’s men.

What do you all think is going to happen tonight then? It will have a big impact on the title race and the fight for survival either way.

Lots at stake, I’m looking forward to this one!

We have an added bonus of two Premier League matches this week, starting with Manchester City v Brentford this evening.

These two only faced off just over two weeks ago, with Phil Foden netting a hattrick as City came from behind to secure a 3-1 win. They will be hoping for a similar performance from the young Englishman again tonight.

Both sides will be looking to bounce back from disappointing results at the weekend. Can City close the gap at the top to just one point, or will Brentford spring a shock and damage the Cityzens’ title hopes even further?

It is sure to be another electric night in England’s top tier, so make sure you don’t miss a moment, we will give you all the latest updates as they happen.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy another night of Premier League football.