Brentford vs Man City live: Team news and updates as City bid to capitalise on Liverpool disarray – UK Times

Keith Andrews makes one change to the Bees line-up that defeated Man City last time out. Dango Ouattara is replaced with Kristoffer Ajer.

Pep Guardiola makes three changes to the Man City team that drew 2-2 with Monaco during the week. John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku drop out in favour of Matheus Nunes, Oscar Bobb and Savinho.

Brentford XI: Kelleher; Hickey, Van den Berg, Collins, Ajer, Kayode; Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Reijnders, Bobb, Foden, Savinho, Haaland

“We’ve shown resilience this season,” said Nathan Ake ahead of today’s match against Brentford.

“Maybe from the outside a lot of people don’t think we can make it and stuff like that, but we believe in ourselves – we know we have a lot of different players and staff so obviously it’s going to be new.

“What we’ve shown so far is that we’re willing to work and willing to fight. We’ve had some good results and we’re unbeaten in the last few games – hopefully we can keep it going.”

Pep Guardiola explained why Nico Gonzalez is so important to Manchester City as Rodri continues to rediscover full fitness and form.

“Rodri could not play three days before because his knee was in a bad condition,” Guardiola said about the Monaco match.

“That’s why Nico in those [last] 30 minutes [against Monaco], he was the player that won more balls recovered, and we concede less in the transition, than when Rodri was playing in the first half.

“I’d love to tell you yes because Rodri wasn’t on the pitch we conceded the goal but I can’t prove that because if I felt it, Rodri would be on the pitch.

“Rodri cannot play in certain moments and 90 minutes for many games and Nico played really good against Burnley and he’s learning and improving. We need him.

“Rodri can’t sustain yet the rhythm for games for 90 minutes, he made an incredible effort in the week with Manchester United, Napoli and especially Arsenal.

“I try to protect my players. Sometimes I want the best players there but I have to protect the players.”

“Can you tell me one club who wouldn’t want Haaland as a dream?” Pep Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.

“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.

“The team help him a lot and are able to make actions to score goals. When he plays better we have more chances, always I want the team to concede less and create more. Then after it’s only a game.

“Football you can create more, concede less and lose the game. It’s the only sport in the world.”

The Bees manager explored why his side were successful against Manchester United in their last outing.

“It was a deserved win,” said Andrews. “I thought the attitude of the players was excellent – the belief, the courage, the conviction.

“How we started the game and, ultimately, finished the game, the way we had to navigate through what can be tricky waters at times, it was excellent.

“Our approach, everything we did with the ball and without the ball… there were so many positives.”

Erling Haaland has offered a damning X-rated assessment of Manchester City’s performance against Monaco as they relinquished victory late on in the Champions League.

City twice let their advantage slip on Wednesday night as they were held to a 2-2 draw, with the second equaliser coming in the 90th minute courtesy of a 90th minute penalty.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been speaking to club media about settling into his role as the No.1 at Brentford following his summer switch.

“I’m still settling in and getting to know the team and my team-mates which will take a bit of time, but I can feel it getting stronger and stronger,” Kelleher revealed.

“At Liverpool, I would play and then come out of the team and not play again for a while; here, I’m playing week in, week out and it’s taken some getting used to, but I’m really happy to be doing it and I’m getting there, for sure.”

After signing his new contract at City, Savinho explained why he is excited about remaining at the club and how Pep Guardiola has improved him as a player.

“I think I’ve improved a lot,” he explained. “In this first season, working with the staff and with Pep, I’m really happy to have developed under him.

“I think I’ve improved a lot tactically. Technically too — I understand the game better, I’ve learnt to read it better, to know what it asks in certain moments.

“I will give my best to help Manchester City win trophies, which is the most important thing. I hope to put my name in the club’s history by winning trophies.”