Erling Haaland continued his sensational start to the new Premier League season with a brace that helped Manchester City come from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 on Saturday.

Haaland, the Premier League Player of the Month, had netted hat-tricks in his prior two appearances but had to settle for just the two goals at the Etihad Stadium, moving to 99 in City colours in all competitions.

Yoane Wissa had stunned City in the first minute after capitalising on a defensive mix-up, but Haaland was not kept quiet for long.

City’s master marksman had Pep Guardiola’s side back on terms in the 19th minute, before scoring what proved to be the winner before half-time.

Haaland came close to completing another treble and bringing up his City ton, but the champions had to survive a nervy finish to preserve the Premier League’s only 100% record at the top of the table, with Brentford back in seventh place.

Data Debrief: Haaland closing in City ton

While the combination of the post and the palms of Mark Flekken stopped Haaland from netting his 100th City goal and a third consecutive hat-trick, you feel it is only a matter of time before the Norwegian achieves his landmark moment. 

Haaland has now taken his tally to nine goals in the first four league games this season, the most of any player in the opening four matches of a Premier League campaign (overtaking Wayne Rooney in 2011-12 - eight in first four).

It was also the Norwegian's 50th appearance for City at the Etihad. The striker has been directly involved in more home goals than any other Premier League player across all competitions since his home debut in August 2022 (70 – 59 goals and 11 assists).

But Guardiola's side had to come from behind to secure the triumph, with Wissa's goal after 22 seconds was the fastest ever scored in the Premier League against the reigning champions, while it was the first time that City have ever conceded in the opening minute at home in the competition.

Pep Guardiola says he is "happy" Manchester City's hearing into 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules begins on Monday.

Following a four-year investigation, the club were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023.

Man City strongly deny all charges.

The alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules relate to a period between 2009 and 2018, with the trial expected to run for 10 weeks and a verdict likely to come in early 2025.

While some are dubbing it sport's 'trial of the century', Guardiola is just pleased that it is now close to the start date.

"It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon," Guardiola said of the hearing. "An independent panel will decide, and I am looking forward to the decision.

"I'm happy it's starting on Monday. I know there will be more rumours, new specialists about the sentences. We're going to see.

"I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, I know what I read for many, many years.

"Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. So, we'll see."

On the pitch, City are beginning a busy period that will see them play seven games before the October international break.

With the start of their Champions League campaign and their EFL Cup third-round tie scheduled between their Premier League matches, Guardiola said he would not be using the hectic calendar as an excuse.

"It is going to happen many times when teams play in all competitions," he added.

"We will do our job anyway because we love to do it. I'm not a specialist about the calendar. We follow it. Everyone knows the schedule will be tight this season, so you just have to accept it."

They will have to play those games without defender Nathan Ake, who was stretchered off during the Netherlands’ Nations League meeting with Germany.

"We are unlucky with Nathan - every time he goes there [to play for the Netherlands] he comes back injured," Guardiola said.

"I think it will be until the next international break."

City's next game is at home to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday as they look to continue their perfect start to the campaign. 

Pep Guardiola backed Rico Lewis to play a starring role in Manchester City's quest for a fifth Premier League title after an impressive start to the new season. 

Lewis, who has started every game for Guardiola this term, impressed in City's 3-1 win over West Ham ahead of the international break, while he also played the duration of England's win over Finland.

The 19-year-old has filled in for the absent Kyle Walker so far, and Guardiola is confident that his recent form will help the Citizens moving forward as the Champions League group phase kicks in. 

"Absolute, absolutely [he's playing well]. Have you seen the minutes he played in the pocket? I said many times, Rico has one incredible ability that for many years, it was difficult to find," Guardiola said.

"Always he is free, always he is alone. When his mate has the ball, I don’t know what he does, but he's free.

"You can pass the ball to him, and not just in positions where it's comfortable, but in positions where the space is so tight, arriving in the third final.

"We all the players ready, because the schedule that comes from now on until the end of the season will be difficult.

"That's what I said. Pre-season is over today. It's over officially. The real season starts after the international break."

But standing in their way are a Brentford side brimming with confidence after comfortably dispatching Southampton 3-1 before the international break to register their best start to a Premier League season. 

The Bees also arrive at the Etihad as the last team to beat Guardiola's men on home soil, with head coach Thomas Frank believing his players should take that confidence into their encounter with the reigning champions. 

"The feeling after a win is always unbelievable," said Frank. "It's a combination of relief and happiness.

"We performed well and played a good game. We clearly deserved to win. We need to celebrate our wins for 24 hours because in the Premier League, it is so difficult to win."

"Our high press today was absolutely world-class. We were so aggressive, so well organised and the players were so committed."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Man City – Erling Haaland

Haaland has seven goals in the Premier League this season, the most ever by a player in a team's first three matches of a campaign in the competition.

The record in a team's first four matches in a Premier League season is eight goals by Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2011-12.

Brentford – Yoane Wissa

Wissa has started the season in fine form, netting in two of Brentford's three Premier League games so far this campaign, but he has found it difficult against the Citizens in the five matches he has played against them.

Of the teams Wissa has faced in the top flight, City are one of six sides alongside Man United, Brighton, Sheffield United, Watford and Norwich he has failed to score against.

MATCH PREDICTION: MAN CITY WIN

Manchester City have won four of their six Premier League games against Brentford (L2), doing the double over them in both 2021-22 and 2023-24.

They have also won all three of their Premier League games this season. They have won each of their opening four matches of an English top-flight campaign on eight previous occasions (1903-04, 1912-13, 1961-62, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2023-24), which is already the most of any club.

The hosts have won each of their last 12 Premier League games, all by a margin of 2+ goals. Indeed, under Guardiola alone, the Citizens are responsible for six of the 16 runs of 12+ consecutive wins by any club in English top-flight history (38%).

However, Brentford remain the last side to win away to City in any competition, triumphing 2-1 in November 2022. The Citizens are unbeaten in 45 at the Etihad in all competitions since (W38 D7).

The Bees have won two of their three Premier League games this season (L1), their best start to a campaign in the competition. In the top-flight, only in 1946-47 have they ever won three of their opening four matches – but that was the only season they were relegated from this level.

But since the start of last season, Brentford have lost more Premier League away games (13) than any side currently in the competition. The Bees have also lost each of their last five away league games against sides that finished the previous season in the top four.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Man City – 82.3%

Draw –11%

Brentford – 6.7%

Pep Guardiola is constantly evolving to stay ahead of the rest of the game, giving him the best advantage to keep winning, so says Rodri.

Manchester City won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, following on from their historic treble, with Rodri's goal sealing it as the club won their first-ever Champions League.

Rodri has been a key piece of Guardiola's team since joining from Atletico Madrid in July 2019, and last season made 34 appearances in the top-flight, never tasting defeat in any of them.

In all competitions last campaign, he made 50 appearances, playing the most minutes of any of his team-mates (4,325). Rodri also featured in six of Spain's seven Euro 2024 matches, helping them to win a record fourth title at the tournament.

The midfielder admitted that while Guardiola is constantly looking for improvement, he has also been the key to Rodri reaching his potential.

"To me, the unique thing about Pep is that he is always one step ahead," Rodri wrote in the Players Tribune. "He is always evolving before the game around him can evolve.

"He is never satisfied with keeping things exactly as we played last season, because your competition is always going to be analysing last season. You don't win four Premier League titles in a row by standing still. You either reinvent yourself or you die.

"For me, he added that final mental piece of the puzzle. "Seeing" the game in a different way. "Feeling" it — when to move into space, when to hold back. When to press, when to ease off.

"His confidence was so important to me, because you have to remember, when I came here in 2019, I was walking into a changing room with Fernandinho, Aguero, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne. Legends."

In his five years in Manchester, Rodri has won four Premier Leagues, an FA Cup, two EFL Cups, a Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

City only failed to win the Premier League in Rodri's first of those five seasons, while the Spaniard has only suffered defeat in two finals while at the club: the Champions League in 2021 and the FA Cup last term.

However, he says those defeats are what drive him to improve, using them as learning moments when it comes to challenging for the next trophy.

"We have been very blessed the last few years with City, but it's not real life," Rodri added. "In the good moments, you don't learn, you just enjoy.

"In the bad moments, when you truly suffer, that's when you really grow. I remember after the '21 Champions League final against Chelsea, I walked back into the little family area, and when I saw my parents and my brothers, I literally couldn't speak.

"It was like I was 10 years old again, at the kitchen table. I couldn't say a word. I just thought: I never want to feel this feeling again. I have to work harder. I have to find a way to be better."

Phil Foden is unlikely to link up with the England squad due to illness, according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Foden, who scooped the PFA's Player of the Year last month, has played just 45 minutes this season in City's 2-0 win over Chelsea on the opening day of the campaign. 

The 24-year-old had been called up by new England interim boss Lee Carsley for the Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

But Guardiola believes the midfielder will not be fit enough to link up with his national side, saying after their win over West Ham: “I don’t think so right now.

“I think he will not go but I don’t know. He doesn’t feel well. But national teams, they decide.

“He doesn’t feel good. It’s his stomach, a little virus. But the people said with antibiotics and so on he will be fine.”

Foden’s absence from the England squad will be the second notable name to miss out from their Euro 2024 squad, with Jude Bellingham nursing a calf injury. 

The City man enjoyed a stellar season under Guardiola last term, producing 39 goal involvements (27 goals and 12 assists) in all competitions.

But that form failed to transpire during Gareth Southgate's tenure, further highlighted by not registering a goal or an assist for the Three Lions at their most recent tournament.

Foden's best position within the England squad has been the centre of attention in recent seasons, often operating out wide rather than centrally where he has proved to be more effective for his club.

He has made 41 appearances for England but scored just four goals, with his last strike for his country coming in an international friendly against Scotland last year.

Phil Foden is unlikely to link up with the England squad due to illness, according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Foden, who scooped the PFA's Player of the Year last month, has played just 45 minutes this season in City's 2-0 win over Chelsea on the opening day of the campaign. 

The 24-year-old had been called up by new England interim boss Lee Carsley for the Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

But Guardiola believes the midfielder will not be fit enough to link up with his national side, saying after their win over West Ham: “I don’t think so right now.

“I think he will not go but I don’t know. He doesn’t feel well. But national teams, they decide.

“He doesn’t feel good. It’s his stomach, a little virus. But the people said with antibiotics and so on he will be fine.”

Foden’s absence from the England squad will be the second notable name to miss out from their Euro 2024 squad, with Jude Bellingham nursing a calf injury. 

The City man enjoyed a stellar season under Guardiola last term, producing 39 goal involvements (27 goals and 12 assists) in all competitions.

But that form failed to transpire during Gareth Southgate's tenure, further highlighted by not registering a goal or an assist for the Three Lions at their most recent tournament.

Foden's best position within the England squad has been the centre of attention in recent seasons, often operating out wide rather than centrally where he has proved to be more effective for his club.

He has made 41 appearances for England but scored just four goals, with his last strike for his country coming in an international friendly against Scotland last year.

Pep Guardiola is hopeful Manchester City will have Phil Foden available after the international break, casting doubt on his chances of representing England in the Nations League.

Foden has suffered from illness in the early stages of the season, missing victories over Ipswich Town and West Ham after playing 45 minutes at Chelsea on matchday one.

While City have not suffered for Foden's absence, maintaining a perfect record to start the campaign, Guardiola is keen to have the 2023-24 Premier League Player of the Season available as soon as possible.

Foden scored 19 league goals and added eight assists in 2023-24, netting vital hat-tricks against Brentford and Aston Villa as City were flawless throughout the run-in.

He has been included in Lee Carsley's England squad for their upcoming fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, but Guardiola is not certain he will feature in those games. 

Asked how long City fans will have to wait to see Foden again, Guardiola said: "Hopefully not too long. Hopefully after the international break he'll be ready.

"He played against Chelsea for 45 minutes but then after he didn't feel good. He had tests and feels much better, but he still doesn't feel perfect.

"I prefer we have that time for him to recover and be fine and after, come back after the international break and be ready for those games."

City's next Premier League fixture sees them host Brentford on September 14, before they welcome Inter to the Etihad Stadium for their Champions League opener four days later.

Pep Guardiola was lost for words to describe Erling Haaland after his eighth Premier League hat-trick fired Manchester City to a 3-1 victory over West Ham.

Having scored a treble to help City claim a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town on matchday two, Haaland did likewise on Saturday to keep them perfect as they edged out the Hammers at the London Stadium.

Haaland's seven goals this season are the most any player has ever netted in the first three matches of a Premier League campaign, while only Sergio Aguero (12), Alan Shearer (11) and Robbie Fowler (nine) have ever helped themselves to more match balls in the competition.

Across English football's top four tiers, he is also the first player to score two hat-tricks in a team's first three games of a league season since Bradford City's Paul Jewell in 1994-95.

The Norwegian has now scored more than once in 26% of his Premier League matches (18/69, eight hat-tricks, 10 braces), leaving Guardiola in disbelief. 

"There are no words for him," Guardiola told BBC Sport.

"All we can do is make him play better and better and give him as many balls as possible into the box. It's what we have to do. We are there and we added quality.

"This is a team. When you have to run backward, no one asks who has to do it. Everyone has to. When we see Erling doing that, it is fantastic."

Haaland himself, meanwhile, believes having an extended pre-season due to Norway missing out on Euro 2024 has helped him start the season in peak condition.

"I feel good. I feel energised. I had a long vacation and a long pre-season. I'm feeling good," Haaland told City's website. 

"The years here have gone quick and it's been going like, 'bam bam bam', now I have a little bit of rest in my body and my feet. I feel really good now and I'm ready for more.

"I feel more refreshed and more energised. So when you do that you can practice on things you want to become better at in training. I feel good. I want to become better. I'm happy."

City sit top of the early-season table with nine points from nine available and saw last season's runners-up Arsenal slip up on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Haaland, though, feels it is too early to think about the title race, adding: "They [City's rivals] haven't slipped up yet. Three games, nine points. This is a great start.

"But let's not think too far ahead, because there’s potentially 70 games left this season. Let's breathe a bit and take it game by game."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the secret to the success of Spanish coaches is their development when it comes to the tactical side of the game.

Guardiola, who has led City to four successive Premier League titles, will go up against compatriot Julen Lopetegui when his team travel to West Ham on Saturday.

It has been a summer of success for Spain on the international stage, with La Roja winning Euro 2024 before their Under-23s won gold at the Paris Olympics.

Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola form the rest of the Spanish contingent of managers in the Premier League, and Guardiola shared what he believes is the reason for coaches from his nation enjoying such success.

"The secret is [Spanish coaches] work really well from early ages on tactics, on methodologies, to understand the game," he told Man City's official media channels.

"So in a team sport, you need to acknowledge why things happen. Spanish coaches work really well to understand the game.

"Today, all the managers and coaches are really well prepared. That’s why the football is getting better and better."

Guardiola added that competition is what drives him on.

"I think the competition itself ignites something in all of us. Why should it stop? I think when it stops, you should retire," he said.

"When the competition comes, we say okay, let’s try it again. That mentality is always there.

"Managers always drink knowledge from the staff, from the players – it’s not always me to the other people. It's a back and forth, not in just one direction.

"Just to have nice people around you is the most important thing, to have the good vibes in the team. If not it’s always conflict – conflict is the enemy that can beat you. The rest has to be a healthy, nice environment."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Ham - Michail Antonio

Antonio has been involved in 99 Premier League goals for West Ham (67 goals, 32 assists), and could be the first player to reach 100 for the club.

Five of these have been against Man City (three goals, two assists), with the Jamaican only having a hand in more against four clubs (Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Liverpool and Watford).

Manchester City - Erling Haaland

Haaland has scored 16 goals in 10 Premier League appearances in August, averaging a goal every 52 minutes, the best minutes-per-goal ratio by a player in a particular month in Premier League history (min. 500 minutes played).

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

City have lost none of their 16 Premier League meetings with West Ham under Guardiola (W14 D2). It is the joint-most a manager has faced a specific opponent without ever losing in the competition's history (Alex Ferguson vs Charlton also 16).

The champions are unbeaten in 21 Premier League games so far in 2024 (W18 D3), their longest unbeaten run from the start of a calendar year in league history. Overall, they are unbeaten in 25 Premier League games, winning the last 11 in a row.

City have scored more away goals against West Ham than they have against any other opponent in the Premier League (42). Meanwhile, their 25 goals at the London Stadium is the most an away team has scored at a specific venue in the Premier League since its opening in 2016-17.

West Ham are winless in their last 17 Premier League meetings with City (D3 L14) since a 2-1 away win in September 2015. Indeed, City have lost just one of their last 14 away league games against the Hammers (W8 D5), and are unbeaten in their last nine visits since a 2-1 loss at Upton Park in October 2014.

The Hammers have conceded at least once in each of their last 10 Premier League home games, last having a longer run without a clean sheet between April and December 2009 (12).

Only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest (37 each) have had more shots than West Ham (32) in the opening two Premier League games this season. However, only three sides (Everton, Southampton, Ipswich Town) have had fewer attempts on target than the Hammers (six).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

West Ham - 16.4%

Man City - 64%

Draw - 19.6%

Liam and Noel Gallagher have finally settled their differences to reunite Oasis next year, though their allegiances towards Manchester City have never altered.

Manchester's great duo are, after years of wait, heading back to England's biggest stages, with the news announced on Tuesday to confirm their comeback as definitely, not maybe.

Having last played at V Festival in late August 2009, the pair split just before their beloved City fired to centre stage, rising from the third tier to dominate the Premier League since the brothers' ill-tempered farewell.

With eight Premier League titles, one Champions League crown, three FA Cup wins and six EFL Cup successes, City have transformed their fortunes since Oasis' split.

Here, we unpick the data behind City's success, watching rivals Manchester United Slide Away from the top spot for the city's bragging rights since the Gallaghers parted ways on August 22, 2009.

Champion Supernova

City have lifted eight Premier League titles since Oasis' final performance, winning a massive 1,252 points across that period – 152 more than nearest challengers Liverpool in the same timeframe.

That points tally is also 163 more than neighbours United, with Supersonic City's 385 top-flight wins (219 at home, 166 away) in the aforementioned span far greater than second-placed Liverpool's 322.

The four-in-a-row champions have also managed 1,306 goals, a total that Liverpool (1,112), Arsenal (1,074), Chelsea (1,044) and Man Utd (1,008) can get nowhere near.

Pep's Masterplan

Pep Guardiola may be the only man in Manchester able to rival the Gallagher's fame, with the City boss leading his side to unprecedented heights since his arrival in England eight years ago.

In the same Oasis-less period, Guardiola's 227 Premier League wins are the most of any City manager, ahead of Roberto Mancini (82), Manuel Pellegrini (70), Mark Hughes (five) and caretaker Brian Kidd (one).

That dominance owes to the fact Guardiola is the longest-serving City boss of the span, though his winning percentage of 74% is once again greater than nearest rivals, Mancini (62%) and Pellegrini (61%).

Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Newcastle

Some Might Say no team can keep up with City in the Premier League, but Newcastle United are the side to have struggled most with the Oasis-stricken blues.

Man City have defeated Newcastle 22 times in the Premier League since that fateful last Oasis performance in 2009, suggesting the Magpies are at least Half The World Away from the Citizens' quality.

As Newcastle's hopes of a rare win over City appear to have faded away Little by Little, West Ham have also lost 21 games in that period against the Manchester club, with Villa third on 18 defeats.

Whatever the other teams have struggled with, Middlesbrough – now in the Championship – have suffered no such issues, remaining as the only Premier League side to have not lost against City in the period (two draws in two matches).

Gundowall

Ilkay Gundogan was, at least in jest, said to have played a part in Oasis' reunion after the same Gallagher brothers attempted to lure the Germany midfielder back to the Etihad Stadium.

His 44 goals for City in the period without Oasis rank him 11th on the list of Premier League scorers for the club, which is headed by Argentina's Rock 'N' Roll Star Sergio Aguero, on 184.

The striker's tally is more than double his nearest competitor, Raheem Sterling (91), who makes up the top five with Kevin De Bruyne (69), Erling Haaland (67) and Yaya Toure (62).

As for appearances, former midfielder David Silva answered City's call the most to Stand by Me, racking up 309 league appearances – ahead of Aguero, who is just behind on 275.

Liam and Noel Gallagher have finally settled their differences to reunite Oasis next year, though their allegiances towards Manchester City have never altered.

Manchester's great duo are, after years of wait, heading back to England's biggest stages, with the news announced on Tuesday to confirm their comeback as definitely, not maybe.

Having last played at V Festival in late August 2009, the pair split just before their beloved City fired to centre stage, rising from the third tier to dominate the Premier League since the brothers' ill-tempered farewell.

With eight Premier League titles, one Champions League crown, three FA Cup wins and six EFL Cup successes, City have transformed their fortunes since Oasis' split.

Here, we unpick the data behind City's success, watching rivals Manchester United Slide Away from the top spot for the city's bragging rights since the Gallaghers parted ways on August 22, 2009.

Champion Supernova

City have lifted eight Premier League titles since Oasis' final performance, winning a massive 1,252 points across that period – 152 more than nearest challengers Liverpool in the same timeframe.

That points tally is also 163 more than neighbours United, with Supersonic City's 385 top-flight wins (219 at home, 166 away) in the aforementioned span far greater than second-placed Liverpool's 322.

The four-in-a-row champions have also managed 1,306 goals, a total that Liverpool (1,112), Arsenal (1,074), Chelsea (1,044) and Man Utd (1,008) can get nowhere near.

Pep's Masterplan

Pep Guardiola may be the only man in Manchester able to rival the Gallagher's fame, with the City boss leading his side to unprecedented heights since his arrival in England eight years ago.

In the same Oasis-less period, Guardiola's 227 Premier League wins are the most of any City manager, ahead of Roberto Mancini (82), Manuel Pellegrini (70), Mark Hughes (five) and caretaker Brian Kidd (one).

That dominance owes to the fact Guardiola is the longest-serving City boss of the span, though his winning percentage of 74% is once again greater than nearest rivals, Mancini (62%) and Pellegrini (61%).

Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Newcastle

Some Might Say no team can keep up with City in the Premier League, but Newcastle United are the side to have struggled most with the Oasis-stricken blues.

Man City have defeated Newcastle 22 times in the Premier League since that fateful last Oasis performance in 2009, suggesting the Magpies are at least Half The World Away from the Citizens' quality.

As Newcastle's hopes of a rare win over City appear to have faded away Little by Little, West Ham have also lost 21 games in that period against the Manchester club, with Villa third on 18 defeats.

Whatever the other teams have struggled with, Middlesbrough – now in the Championship – have suffered no such issues, remaining as the only Premier League side to have not lost against City in the period (two draws in two matches).

Gundowall

Ilkay Gundogan was, at least in jest, said to have played a part in Oasis' reunion after the same Gallagher brothers attempted to lure the Germany midfielder back to the Etihad Stadium.

His 44 goals for City in the period without Oasis rank him 11th on the list of Premier League scorers for the club, which is headed by Argentina's Rock 'N' Roll Star Sergio Aguero, on 184.

The striker's tally is more than double his nearest competitor, Raheem Sterling (91), who makes up the top five with Kevin De Bruyne (69), Erling Haaland (67) and Yaya Toure (62).

As for appearances, former midfielder David Silva answered City's call the most to Stand by Me, racking up 309 league appearances – ahead of Aguero, who is just behind on 275.

Pep Guardiola has hailed Erling Haaland for pressing "like an animal" and believes the Manchester City striker is in better physical shape than he was last season.

Haaland scored his 10th hat-trick for City as they came from behind to beat Ipswich Town 4-1 on Saturday, moving onto four goals from two Premier League appearances in 2024-25.

The Norwegian has now scored at least once against all 23 teams he has faced in the Premier League, with Harry Kane (32/32) the only player to have faced more sides in the competition while scoring against all of them.

However, Guardiola has been most impressed with Haaland's work off the ball, saying: "I like when he runs a lot. I like when he presses like an animal. I like it. It helps to score a goal.

"When you are connected defensively, you are connected offensively. His body language – imagine a central defender has the ball and he makes a sprint with this body and legs moving. It's scary.

"This is not negotiable. If you don't score a goal, it's fine. But you need to do it."

Haaland scored 27 top-flight goals to win his second Golden Boot last season, despite missing almost two months with a foot injury in the middle of the campaign.

Guardiola believes Haaland is over his physical issues, adding: "He feels good. Last season he always had problems in the hips, in the ankles, in the knee.

"This season of course he takes care of himself with the physios really well, but I had the feeling that he is sharper.

"After training sessions he stays longer to practice crosses and control. Last season it never happened because he was not perfect.

"With his body, he has to be perfect to perform at that level. That's why you have an incredible organisation to help the players to be comfortable to perform at their best."

Pep Guardiola has praised Manchester City's spirit to bounce back and overcome an Ipswich Town side he described as "special".

Sammie Szmodics gave the visitors a shock lead in Saturday's Premier League contest at the Etihad Stadium, but City recovered to win 4-1.

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick - the first of those coming from the penalty spot - while Kevin De Bruyne was also on target for the home side.

Ipswich gave Liverpool a tough time of things on the opening weekend, albeit losing 2-0, while they also gave the reigning champions a scare.

"We played really good, but the opponents made an exceptional action and credit to them," Guardiola said at his post-match press conference.

"When I see how we started, [I could see] how much respect we have for them. 

"I said as they come from the Championship to the Premier League, it's because they have something special.

"I saw the game against Liverpool and how tough it was. At home in their own stadium, it was maybe more difficult than it was today."

Ipswich, who earned back-to-back promotions to come up form League One to the Premier League, conceded three times in four first-half minutes.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game," Ipswich forward Sammie Szmodics told Sky Sports. "We knew the crowd would be up. 

"We started the game well and individual mistakes at this level get punished. The three goals in four minutes killed us.

"It was a dream start but we have got to manage the game better. We have got to learn from it."

While Ipswich have lost back-to-back games to begin the season, City have six points from six having also defeated Chelsea 2-0 last weekend.

Guardiola introduced Ilkay Gundogan from the bench in the second half against Ipswich, a day on from the midfielder returning to the club.

And the Catalan coach reserved a special word for Gundogan - one of the heroes of City's treble-winning campaign two seasons ago.

"Thank you for this warm welcome to him," he told Sky Sports. "He is unbelievably happy. I had doubts [about bringing him off the bench].

"We know each other for many years and he knows exactly what he needs to do. I am very pleased he is back."

City return to action next Saturday with a trip to West Ham, while Ipswich host Fulham the same day in their next Premier League outing.

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City earned a resounding 4-1 triumph over Ipswich Town thanks largely to a barnstorming first-half blitz at the Etihad Stadium.

Sammie Szmodics sparked jubilant scenes in the away end as Premier League new boys Ipswich stole a surprise seventh-minute lead with a brilliant counter-attack.

But Haaland levelled from the spot just five minutes later and, after Kevin De Bruyne capitalised on Arijanet Muric's error, had Pep Guardiola's men 3-1 in front with only 16 minutes on the clock.

The Norway star took home the match ball by lashing home a fourth in the closing stages but in truth the damage was long done by that devastating four-minute goal spree.

Szmodics squirmed the opener through the legs of Ederson but Leif Davis hacked down Savinho for Haaland to equaliser after 12 minutes.

Muric's dithering resulted in De Bruyne rolling into an empty goal and another rush of blood to the head saw Haaland round the goalkeeper to side-foot home from De Bruyne's excellent throughball after 16 minutes.

Haaland saw his header kept out by Muric's fine save just after the hour but his excellent 20-yard drive into the bottom-right corner two minutes from time completed the hat-trick.

Data Debrief: Haaland makes it 23 from 23

Haaland has now scored against each of the 23 opponents he has faced in the Premier League after registering against Ipswich.

Only Harry Kane also boasts a 100 per cent record against opponents among players to have faced more than one side.

Each of Haaland's seven Premier League hat-tricks have come at the Etihad Stadium. Only Thierry Henry has a better record at a single venue in the competition (eight – Highbury).

Kevin De Bruyne has both scored and assisted in 26 Premier League games, the most of any Manchester City player in the competition.

Pep Guardiola was delighted to see Ilkay Gundogan seal a "complete surprise" return to Manchester City but does not envisage a similar swoop for Raheem Sterling.

Gundogan returned to the Etihad Stadium on a one-year deal on Friday, just over 12 months after leaving the club to pursue a new challenge with Barcelona.

The midfielder won 14 trophies during a hugely successful initial stint at City between 2016 and 2023, making 188 Premier League appearances for the club.

Only 10 City players, meanwhile, have bettered his total of 44 Premier League goals for the club, while he also has 16 assists to his name in the competition.

Gundogan became available due to Barcelona needing to raise funds to complete the registration of new midfielder Dani Olmo, and while Guardiola was surprised to see the move go through, he is overjoyed to have his former captain back.

"When managers say, 'this is the transfer window, anything can happen', this is the real proof," Guardiola said as he previewed Saturday's meeting with Ipswich Town.

"It was a complete surprise, unexpected. We know him quite well, me personally but also the staff and players, and we know the quality he played with last season at Barcelona. 

"He played at a high, high level, playing a lot of minutes and producing a lot. We didn't have any doubts when the possibility was open. We're absolutely delighted he's back.

"He knows everything so he doesn't need time to settle. If he has to play tomorrow then he knows everything. He is always in the right position and everyone is so thrilled he is back."

Gundogan's return has led to suggestions a similar move could be on the cards for Sterling, who is out of favour at Chelsea just two years after leaving the Etihad.

Sterling, who is second in City's all-time Premier League scoring charts with 91 goals, has been exiled from first-team training by new Blues boss Enzo Maresca and was stripped of the number seven shirt earlier this week.

Guardiola, though, would not indicate City are interested in the winger, saying: "He is a Chelsea player. I feel so attached with him because of the time we had together and I feel like that with all my players. 

"But he is a Chelsea player. If you had asked me about Gundogan previously, I would have said he was a Barcelona player. I wish him all the best."

Asked whether City would make any further moves before the transfer window closes, Guardiola said: "I don't think so but I don't know. 

"The market might provide us something that is financially good for us but at the moment I do not know."