After a biblical downpour, the skies cleared, and Manchester City executed the game-plan: secure a win and three points to keep their breath on Arsenal’s neck.

The clincher arrived via Erling Haaland’s 26th Premier League goal - as with his side’s performance this was hardly pretty but no one in blue cared. Antoine Semenyo marauded down the right, his cross hit at least one Brentford body, the ball came to Haaland who, with a second stab at it, bundled home from close-range, the No 9 facing away from goal.

Pep Guardiola jumped into the arms of his assistant, Kolo Touré, and City could relax and tune into Arsenal’s trip on Sunday to West Ham praying the Irons do them a favour.

Erling Haaland is course to win the Premier League golden boot for third time in four seasons. Nobody has done that since Thierry Henry won three in a row in the mid-2000s.

Manchester City

• Crystal Palace (H) 13 May

• Bournemouth (A) 19 May

• Aston Villa (H) 24 May

Arsenal

• West Ham (A) 10 May

• Burnley (H) 18 May

• Crystal Palace (A) 24 May

Manchester City are still alive in the title race after scoring three second-half goals to beat Brentford. After a frustrating first half, Jeremy Doku put City ahead with his third belter of the week. Erling Haaland made it safe before the substitute Omar Marmoush added a third in stoppage time. And now, for 24 hours only, all connected with City are West Ham fans.

90+4 min Thiago’s close-range header is touched onto the top of the bar and over by Donnarumma, an excellent reaction save. Goal difference could yet be a factor, as we’ve said a gazillion times in the last fortnight.

Marmoush is then booked for delaying a restart.

The impressive Foden started the move deep in his own half. Savinho was also involved before Haaland poked a pass into the area for Marmoush. He touched the ball to the side of Collins and finished clinically with his right foot.

Omar Marmoush puts the icing on City’s cake with a fine goal.

90 min: City substitution The outstanding Jeremy Doku, who is almost single-footedly keeping City in the title race, is replaced by Savinho.

Five minutes of added time.

88 min Nunes and Henderson are booked.

87 min There’s a bit of pushing and shoving from players on both sides, with Henderson and Nunes particularly animated. Not sure what that was all about.

83 min Marmoush is about to shoot, and probably score, when Ajer makes a fine last-ditch tackle. City have this game under control for the moment.

Foden, who has looked sharp since coming off the bench, meets Doku’s fast low cross with a close-range shot that is brilliantly pawed over the bar by Kelleher. Outstanding reactions. That would have been a typical Foden goal – he’s so good at screwing those near-post finishes towards goal with his left foot.

82 min City’s next league game is at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday. The mood going into that match will be shaped by the result of West Ham v Arsenal tomorrow afternoon. That game is mahoosive.

80 min Ajer is booked for clattering Marmoush.

Haaland’s goal was his 26th in the Premier League, which puts him four ahead of Igor Thiago in the golden boot stakes.

79 min: City substitution Jordan Henderson replaces Yehor Yarmoliuk in midfield and is booed onto the field.

78 min Don’t be fooled by the scoreline: City have had to work extremely hard to beat Brentford (probably) and stay in the title race.

Semenyo did well on the right, charging past Lewis-Potter and sliding a dangerous ball into the six-yard box. It one way and the other until Haaland improvised by dragging a close-range flick behind his standing leg, through Kelleher and into the net.

Erling Haaland doubles City’s lead!

74 min O’Reilly is booked for pulling back Ouattara.

73 min The irrepressible Doku runs to the edge of the D and curls a left-foot shot that deflects not far wide of goal.

72 min: No penalty It wasn’t a clear and obvious error, but Nunes did take a risk by leaning into Schade. Had a penalty been given it would also have been a red card because there was no attempt to play the ball.

I forgot to say that Dango Ouattara, who started the move, came on for Mikkel Damsgaard in the 69th minute.

71 min: VAR check! Brentford plead for a penalty when Schade goes over after a challenge from behind by Nunes. Thiago ran onto a good pass from Dango Ouattara and tried to find Schade with a square pass across the area.

69 min As things stand Arsenal’s goal difference is three better than City’s. That could still be a factor, especially if Arsenal draw at West Ham tomorrow.

67 min: Good save by Kelleher! Foden wins the ball on the edge of the Brentford area, gets it back from Doku and hits an early shot that is well blocked by Kelleher.

City have had their best spell of the half since Doku’s goal.

64 min Doku has been around for ages – he made his Anderlecht debut in 2018 – but he doesn’t turn 24 until later this month. If he keeps playing like this, the world will be his lobster for the next five years.

62 min: Brentford substitution Vitaly Janelt replaces Aaron Hickey in midfield.

City took a short corner on the left to Doku, whose attempted pass infield was blocked. The ball rebounded back to Doku, who shuffled further infield and curled what is fast becoming a trademark finish into the far corner. Kelleher had no chance.

Jeremy Doku scores another belter!

60 min: Double substitution for City Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush replace Tiijani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki.

59 min Doku beats a defender on the edge of the area, motions as if to shoot and then plays a really clever pass into O’Reilly. He takes a split-second too long to control the ball – I don’t think he was expecting it – and a series of Brentford defenders crowd him out.

58 min It’s a statement of the offensively obvious, but City are really, really missing Rodri’s composure and authority.

57 min City have been all over the place in the second half – unfocussed and far too emotional.

Kayode cuts inside from the right and slips a fine through pass towards Igor Thiago, who gallops away from Guehi and into the area. He considers trying to find Schade on the far side, then sweeps a shot across goal that is pushed away well by Donnarumma. Brentford are on top here.

54 min A petulant push from O’Reilly on Kayode is a sign of City’s growing frustration. Moments later, Semenyo shoots high over the bar from 25 yards.

50 min Brentford take a short free-kick and Jensen’s through ball just evades the stretching Ajer, who would have been in on goal had he been able to control it.

49 min This is such a big half for City, though you wouldn’t know it from the subdued atmosphere. If City draw today, they will be four points behind Arsenal with three games to play, and Pep Guardiola will be facing a second successive season without a title. It would be an unwelcome first in his glorious career.

47 min Cherki pulls a shot wide of the near post from 15 yards. An imaginative effort – his body shape suggested a curler to the far corner – but off target.

46 min Peep peep! City get the second half under way.

Half-time reading

There is only one place to start with Brentford’s Michael Kayode: his unique baby gender reveal at an empty Gtech Community Stadium in February. The 21-year-old walked towards the West Stand, the frame of the goal covered in balloons, and after wiping the ball with a towel, it was time for his trademark long throw, though on this occasion only from the edge of the D. After the ball rippled the net, pink smoke confirmed his partner, Eleonora, is expecting a girl.

Given Kayode launched the ball 65.4 metres last September – further than any other player in the Premier League since Opta began recording such data in 2019-20 – it is hard not to think he was underselling himself. “I didn’t want to miss,” he says, breaking into laughter, “so I just kept it easy.” Family, friends, a videographer and photographer, plus the couple’s pomeranian, Kiri, were the only ones present. “It was a really special moment and celebrating like this was unbelievable … I just have to say thanks to Brentford for giving me use of the stadium.”

Significantly, there is substance to Kayode’s long throw: of the 157 he has hurled into the box in the Premier League this season, 40 have resulted in a shot and five have culminated in goals, almost 10% of Brentford’s goals scored tally. He downplays his part. “It is simple. Obviously it is a weapon, but across 90 minutes, in that period the ball is out for maybe not even five minutes for throw-ins.” Does he practise throw-ins? “No, no, not at all.”

The City captain Bernardo Silva gives the officials a mouthful before leaving the field. He needs to be careful as he’s already on a yellow card after whacking Nathan Collins on the leg.

A frustrating 45 minutes for Pep and friends, who dominated Brentford without creating a host of clear chances. Jeremy Doku was irresistible but City need more from Cherki, Semenyo and Haaland.

45 min There will be two minutes of added time.

44 min Reijnders has a shot blocked by Ajer after a shimmering run to the edge of the area. Semenyo’s follow-up is also blocked.

Brentford need a half-time breather because it’s been one-way traffic since around the 25th minute.

43 min “I think, according to the letter of the law, whacking another player in a fit of anger counts as violent conduct,” writes Kári Tulinius. “I think the reason Bernardo Silva remains on the field is his Little Guy Privilege. Frankly, Silva striking Nathan Collins is a bit like a mouse punching an elephant.”

41 min Doku beats Kayode for the 477th time and cuts the ball back from the byline. Jensen is on hand to clear.

39 min Cherki’s free-kick is unwittingly blocked by Haaland, then Doku’s shot deflects behind for another corner.

38 min Doku, who has been a constant threat, is fouled just outside the D. The free-kick is slightly to the left of centre. Cherki, Doku and Reinnders are over it…

36 min Bernardo Silva whacks Collins on the back of the leg with his right arm and is booked. That wasn’t a million miles from violent conduct.

Collins and another Brentford player ushered the ball out of play for a goalkick. Bernardo tried to challenge them, lost his balance and then swung his arm into Collins’ leg.

35 min Cherki and Semenyo have had quiet games so far, with most of City’s best attacks coming through O’Reilly and Doku on the left.

34 min Lewis-Potter is fine.