Haaland fires Manchester City past Ipswich as Liverpool grind down nine-man Brentford

The key facts

Manchester City beat Ipswich 3-2 — a Haaland brace, 21 points out of a possible 21.
Liverpool came back against nine-man Brentford and won 2-1; Isak scored his fifth goal of the season after returning from injury.
Isak: 'We still have a lot to improve'; Iraola unhappy with the end of the match.

Manchester City keep their perfect start

Premier League leaders Manchester City beat promoted side Ipswich Town 3-2 at the Etihad. Phil Foden opened the scoring in the 19th minute, finishing a pass from Jérémy Doku on the left flank. Two minutes later Japan's Daizen Maeda equalised, beating Gianluigi Donnarumma at the near post after a pass from Abdul Ouattara. In the 34th minute Erling Haaland restored the hosts' lead with a header from a Mateo Kovačić cross — his seventh league goal of the season. In the 69th minute the Norwegian completed his brace, receiving the ball from Iliman Ndiaye and striking into the bottom corner. Ipswich pulled one back from a penalty taken by Zian Flemming: after a VAR review, Marc Guéhi fouled Abdul Fatawu. The win took City's tally to 21 points from seven matches.

Liverpool come back against nine-man Brentford

Liverpool trailed away at Brentford but won 2:1. Keane Lewis-Putnam put the hosts ahead in the 44th minute with a header from an Igor Thiago cross. In first-half stoppage time, after a VAR review for a headbutt on Jérémy Jacquet, Brentford midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk was sent off. Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, Víctor Muñoz equalised in the 62nd minute, shooting low past goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher after a pass from Florian Wirtz. Eight minutes later Alexander Isak put Liverpool ahead — his deflected strike found the net after a knock-down from Bradley Barcola following a cross by Alexis Mac Allister. According to Anadolu, it was the Swede's fifth goal of the season. In second-half stoppage time Brentford captain Vitaly Janelt received a second yellow card for a foul on Rio Ngumoha, leaving the team with nine men. Liverpool collected 12 points from seven matches, while Brentford suffered their first defeat of the season and remained on 10 points.

Reaction: Isak and Iraola on the win

Alexander Isak, back from injury, admitted after the match that the team still has room to grow: 'I think we still have a lot to improve. We are taking steps and picking up points along the way, which is important.' He added that after being substituted he shouted from the bench for his team-mates to keep the ball and calmly see the match out. According to AFP, Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola was unhappy with how the team managed the game after the winning goal in the 70th minute: 'I think we played very well until 2-1. After that we started defending something, and in the final minutes we did not control it well. We lacked composure on the ball.' AFP also notes that the win lifted Iraola's side to fifth place in the league, two points behind second-placed Arsenal.