Erling Haaland has now scored nine goals in Manchester City’s first four Premier League games, a record-breaking mark that surpasses Wayne Rooney’s eight goals from the 2011/12 season. His latest brace secured the champions three points and a maximum tally of 12 goals in a thrilling game.

The No.9’s goals were accompanied by what appeared to be a muted celebration after losing close family friend Ivar Eggja last week. Haaland has scored an incredible 99 goals in all 103 contests in City’s colours and, with Premier League proceedings against the club beginning on Monday, there is no sign whatsoever that the players are distracted.

City deny any wrongdoing but Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Jack Grealish may have been thinking against Brentford about how their outstanding performances could be compromised if any of the 100-plus charges are proven. This victory over the last side to beat Pep Guardiola’s men here on open play 45 home games ago (Real Madrid won on penalties in April) began with a scare, however.

Forty seconds had passed when Thomas Frank’s men stormed up the pitch, the ball went right, was lifted to the far post, Keane Lewis-Potter headed it down, John Stones missed, Ederson flailed and Yoane Wissa slid in.

Guardiola responded with a disgusted shot. Another attack was almost in sight when a porous City let Bryan Mbeumo through, but Rico Lewis thwarted his shot attempt and Frank, with his head in his hands, was in despair.

City were alert and pressed the visitors’ goal. Grealish played in the old-fashioned winger mode, storming down his left flank. De Bruyne gradually found space. Corners were taken on the right. The blue wave came ever closer and, as so often, broke through the opposition.

Mateo Kovacic played the ball straight to Kyle Walker, the full-back passed it to De Bruyne, an attempted pass found Haaland and a right-footed shot rebounded off Ethan Pinnock and went past Mark Flekken.

Scoring goals is simply – and admirably – Haaland’s speciality. Rodri is just as reliable in commanding a game, but watching from the bench he was missed as the Bees once again punched a hole in City. This came down the hosts’ right flank and they won a corner, but the champions escaped.

Not Brentford, just moments later. This was Route 1 football, City/Guardiola style. Haaland burst forward from just inside his half as Ederson hit a long ball into the middle third of Bees territory. A nice tackle removed Pinnock, Haaland touched the ball once, twice, then cleverly slotted it over Flekken.

City were open at the back and played at full speed in attack. Grealish crossed to Ilkay Gündogan and Christian Nørgaard fired home. Grealish’s volley from a corner was blocked. Then Wissa limped off the pitch after a foul by Kovacic, putting the Croatian’s name in Darren Bond’s book.

It was no surprise that Rodri replaced Kovacic in the second half, with Josko Gvardiol stepping in for the incomparable midfielder – Lewis – but a certain weakness remained when a botched pass from Ederson threatened to lead to an equaliser for Brentford.

But nothing came of it and City contented themselves with speeding up the game. Then they woke up: Rodri found De Bruyne and a cross from the right led to a corner. From there the ball found its way to Savinho’s feet but he shot over.

A compendium of attempts followed next: a nifty curler from Grealish that Flekken parried, and a right-footed Haaland shot that the Dutchman tipped over the bar. After sprinting forward, Gvardiol squared to Savinho and the Brazilian’s shot was again parried by the busy Flekken.

Haaland came within inches of equalling Liverpool’s Jack Balmer, the last player to score a top-flight hat-trick in three consecutive games in 1946, but he hit Flekken’s right-hand post.

However, you cannot bet that this phenomenon will stop occurring any time soon.