Title-chasing Man City hold up their end of the bargain against Brentford

Jeremy Doku broke the deadlock against Keith Andrews' side. 

Manchester City's Jeremy Doku celebrates scoring their side's first goal. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Manchester City 3 Brentford 0 

Manchester City still have it all to do in the race for the Premier League title, but at least Jeremy Doku is refusing to wave the white flag.

Just five days after Doku's injury-time strike salvaged a point at Everton, the Belgian winger continued his wonderful knack of finding the top corner with a near-identical goal to break the deadlock as Pep Guardiola's side secured a victory to keep Arsenal honest at the top of the table.

Erling Haaland killed the contest by scrambling home his 37th goal of the season just as Brentford's hopes of an equaliser were starting to gather momentum.

Then substitute Omar Marmoush added some gloss in injury-time with a lethal finish after linking up with Haaland.

Arsenal will still be crowned champions if they beat West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday and follow that up with victories over relegated Burnley and Conference League final-bound Crystal Palace.

But if Mikel Arteta had hoped for a quick conclusion to the title race after seeing his rivals blink first on Merseyside, he was mistaken. The Champions League finalists still have work to do.

Brentford went into the game with their hopes of Champions League qualification lifted by Aston Villa's progress to the Europa League final and the knowledge that the Premier League could now potentially send six teams to the elite competition next season.

European football still remains a very real prospect for Keith Andrews' determined and dogged side.

Doku was once again outstanding for City. At times he carried the fight to Brentford on his own. He tested Caoimhin Kelleher early on, but found the Irishman was up to the task with a plunging save to his left.

City got a scare when Gianluigi Donnarumma flapped at Michael Kayode's long throw and Matheus Nunes had to hack the ball clear from under his own crossbar.

Erling Haaland headed a Doku cross over as the Belgian winger continued to be City's main threat.

Then, in the 21st minute, Kevin Schade lost his balance just as he looked to be beating Nunes to Igor Thiago's flick. Brentford boss Andrews wanted a red card for the City defender, but contact was minimal.

Kelleher denied Haaland from close-range after more impressive Doku wing play.

Cherki dragged a shot just wide early in the second half, but it needed a smart save by Donnarumma to thwart Thiago after he had exposed City's high line.

That was the cue for Guardiola to send on Marmoush and Phil Foden on the hour - and within seconds the deadlock was broken.

Doku twice found the top corner after cutting inside at Everton, He did it again after getting some good fortune with the break of the ball from a poorly-worked short corner, shifting to his right to unleash an unstoppable shot into the postage stamp.

Brentford had a penalty appeal dismissed when Schade once again tangled with Nunes when he looked set to put the finishing touch to Thiago's pass.

But Haaland secured the points with his 26th Premier League goal of the season in the 75th minute, scuffing a backheel past Kelleher after his initial attempt from Antione Semenyo's cross had been blocked.

Marmoush scored City's third when he was set free by Haaland to fire a low shot across Kelleher and into the far corner.