Simon Bajkowski, Manchester Evening News: City need to go for goals against Brentford

In your opinion, do you think they can still pip Mikel Arteta’s side to the title?

No. Given the points and the goal difference, and the fact Arsenal have still got to play already-relegated Burnley at home, Arsenal are going to have to lose one of their last three games. Looking at it, it probably needs to be West Ham on Sunday, as they are the remaining opponent that has the most to fight for.

If West Ham do not beat Arsenal, though, I think it is Arsenal’s title. Also, City have the small matter of needing to beat Brentford and Bournemouth!

'Arsenal are going to have to lose one of their last three games, and it probably needs to be West Ham on Sunday. City also have the small matter of needing to beat Brentford!'

After not winning any major silverware last season, if the Carabao Cup is the only trophy City win, will the season still be seen as a success?

I think it will be seen as a success at City. They want to challenge on all four fronts for as long as possible and silverware is the biggest marker of success; but, in the same way that if Arsenal managed not to win the Premier League or the Champions League, they will still have had a phenomenal season.

So, from City’s point of view, it will still be seen as a successful season, but lots of other people are entitled to think it is not because they do have the biggest wage bill in the league and they spent quite a lot last summer, so is one Carabao Cup enough? That is one for others to decide.

Which player should Brentford be keeping an eye out for on Saturday?

Given City need to score lots of goals as well as win the game, it probably has to be Erling Haaland.

He did really well in the reverse fixture to get the winner and, if City are going to do what they want and need to do in the game, they are probably going to have to rely on him.

What should Keith Andrews’ men expect in terms of shape and style?

Largely, it has been a 4-2-3-1 formation.

It will likely be Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matheus Nunes, Marc Guéhi, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly; Bernardo Silva and probably Mateo Kovačić as holding midfielders, then Antoine Semenyo on the right wing, Rayan Cherki in the no.10, and Jérémy Doku on the left wing behind Haaland.

What’s your score prediction?

I am going to say 3-1 to City - but it feels like it is just really hard to score goals against Brentford!