A Phil Foden hat trick brings Manchester City within two points of the top of the table. The England international grabbed a hat-trick as the champions overcame a scare to make their dominance count and crank up the pressure on Liverpool.
It was a whirlwind first half, with City having 10 shots, the most in an opening 45 minutes in the Premier League since records began. But Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken kept beating their efforts away, making a record nine saves before the break.
Brentford, however, took a shock lead with a route-one goal, Flekken booting the ball downfield and through the City defense and Neal Maupay arrowing past Ederson. The relentless pressure from Guardiola’s side finally paid off in the third minute of added time in the first half when Foden pounced on slack defending and Flekken was finally beaten.
Foden was superb on the night both in his finishing and all-round play. The England international played in a central attacking midfield role which allowed him to ghost into dangerous areas in the centre of the penalty area.
The City academy graduate did exactly that shortly after half-time when he evaded the Brentford defenders and glanced a deft header into the corner of Flekken’s goal.
City are now level on points with Arsenal and two behind Liverpool having played one game less than both.
Erling Haaland made his first start for two months but Phil Foden showed him how to score goals, notching a sensational hat-trick to take Manchester City past Brentford and onto Liverpool’s heels with a 3-1 win.
