Manchester City's Erling Haaland scored an early goal to take the champions provisionally top of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over lowly Southampton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Norwegian scored twice, including a backheel at shoulder height, as City ran riot against the Czech champions.
Manchester City cruised to their first win in the Champions League this season with Erling Haaland among the goalscorers in a 4-0 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava that did little justice to the visitors' dominance.
Manchester City failed to shrug off the absence of Rodri in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle as they dropped Premier League points for the second consecutive game on Saturday.
It’s the latest remarkable signpost for the greatest goalscorer of his generation, after winning the Premier League Golden Boot in his first two campaigns in England.
Brentford had the perfect start when Yoane Wissa opened the scoring 22 seconds after kickoff to stun the Etihad Stadium but Haaland restored parity in the 19th minute when he scored from a tight angle with just his second touch of the game.
Haaland has been the Premier League's top scorer for the last two seasons and the Norwegian has already netted seven goals in three matches this season, including two hat-tricks.
The 24-year-old Norwegian scored his 11th hattrick for City to extend the champions' perfect start to their title defence, notching up his seventh goal in three league games this season.
Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a second consecutive hattrick in a 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday.
Haaland has scored a remarkable 32 goals so far in his first season with City, but the Norway striker still divides opinions as the Premier League champions lack their previous fluency with him in the side
The Norwegian scored his 32nd goal of the season to seal the three points that knocked Arsenal off the top of the table for the first time since November.
"Haaland had a knock, he was uncomfortable," said Guardiola
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher suggested Erling Haaland may have made the wrong choice in joining Manchester City.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland can improve by watching and learning from his Tottenham Hotspur counterpart Harry Kane, manager Pep Guardiola said before the Premier League champions travel to the north London club on Sunday.
Erling Haaland's fourth hat-trick in 19 Premier League appearances hauled Manchester City to within two points of leaders Arsenal with a 3-0 win over Wolves on Sunday.
Manchester City got back to winning ways in thrilling style after coming from two goals down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 on Thursday, a victory that moved the champions to within five points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City must find a way to get Erling Haaland more involved after the Norway international was reduced to a peripheral role in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Manchester United.
Argentina featured heavily in shortlists for FIFA's Best awards following their World Cup triumph, with forwards Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and coach Lionel Scaloni receiving nominations in their categories.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland is not at his best and can get even better despite the Norwegian becoming the fastest player to reach 20 goals in Premier League history during his side's 3-1 win at Leeds United.