Ivan Toney Scores As Manchester City Beat Brentford 2-1

Ivan Toney scores as Brentford beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad stadium on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola warned before the game that his stars could have “one eye” on staying injury free before the World Cup and the City boss’ fears were realised as the champions slipped to a first home defeat since February.

City could now go into the World Cup five points off the top of the table should Arsenal win at Wolves later on Saturday.

Guardiola’s concerns did not stop him naming a starting line-up containing 10 players going to Qatar.

Erling Haaland was the only exception as Norway failed to qualify and he returned to the starting line-up for the first time in six games due to a foot injury.

But Haaland was for once upstaged by his opposite number as Toney produced the perfect riposte to being overlooked by Gareth Southgate.

Toney should have scored the opening goal when he fired too close to Ederson with just the goalkeeper to beat early on.

City did not heed the warning, though, as Ben Mee nodded on a free-kick and Toney got above Aymeric Laporte to head in his 10th goal of the season.

City did finally equalized in first half stoppage time as Phil Foden connected perfectly on the half volley to drill a De Bruyne corner into the top corner.

Manchester City were later caught out by a clinical counter-attack from the visitors as Yoane Wissa and Josh Dasilva combined to tee up Toney to tap home.