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Foden scores hat-trick as Man City beat Villa

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Phil Foden celebrates his goal

Phil Foden struck a stunning hat-trick as Manchester City continued to apply pressure to Premier League title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool with a commanding win over Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium.

Manager Pep Guardiola left key men Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne on the bench after Sunday’s drab draw with Arsenal, but the reigning champions still had too much for injury-hit Villa, who also lost goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to illness just before kick-off.

In their absence, Foden produced a masterclass to take his tally to 21 goals this season. But it was Rodri who struck first for City after 11 minutes when he swept home Jeremy Doku’s cross at the near post.

Villa were dangerous on the break and drew level nine minutes later when Jhon Duran beat Stefan Ortega with a low finish after a neat exchange with Morgan Rogers.

It was then that Foden took charge, restoring City’s lead with a low 20-yard free-kick on the stroke of half-time, although Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo played his part by turning his back in the wall.

Foden extended City’s lead after 62 minutes when he fired low past Villa’s deputy keeper Robin Olsen after good work by Rodri, then claimed his treble in style seven minutes later with a fine drive into the top corner from the edge of the area.

And City almost had a fifth in second-half stoppage time when Sergio Gomez side-footed Josko Gvardiol’s cut-back against the outside of the post.

The win leaves City level on points with Liverpool, who play Sheffield United at Anfield on Thursday night, and a point behind Arsenal, who top the table after beating Luton Town.

Brilliant Foden fills the gap

Phil Foden’s individual display hit such heights that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola never had any cause to question or revise his decision to leave De Bruyne and Haaland to sit out a potentially dangerous clash with Aston Villa.

Indeed, it ended up working out perfectly as City showed much of their own fluency, while De Bruyne and Haaland were able to relax and rest tired legs after recent exertions in readiness for Saturday’s lunchtime visit to Crystal Palace.

City were subdued against Arsenal here on Sunday, but Villa were never able to exert similar control, mainly because Foden was simply too hot for them to handle.

This was a much more convincing City display, more cohesive, and this was mainly thanks to Foden and his deadly mixture of creation and cutting edge that did so much to fashion this victory.

Foden’s hat-trick showed all facets of his game, from the clever free-kick to put City back in front, then the composure to make it 3-1, before the final flourish of a powerful strike past a motionless Olsen into the top corner.

He now has 21 goals this season and if anyone needed further evidence that Foden is the complete package, this performance provided it.

Villa’s night of disappointment

Aston Villa and manager Unai Emery may have felt this was not going to be their night when talisman and World Cup-winning goalkeeper Martinez was forced to withdraw from the game through illness shortly before kick-off, having been named in the starting line-up.

This is not to denigrate his replacement Olsen, who had a faultless night, but it is simply a sign that the fates were against Villa, who were without their suspended captain John McGinn and had already lost main striker Ollie Watkins to injury alongside other key absentees.

Villa did give City some anxious moments, especially when Duran scored a fine equaliser and when Douglas Luiz and Clement Lenglet forced fine saves from City keeper Ortega in swift succession with the score 2-1, but City were nearly always in control and the destiny of the points was sealed once Foden gave Guardiola’s side a two-goal advantage.

Emery’s side remain in fourth place – two points ahead of Tottenham who drew at West Ham United on Tuesday – so no major damage was done, but this was a tired performance from a depleted side.

Player of the match

FodenPhil Foden

with an average of 7.96

Manchester City

  1. Squad number47Player nameFoden
    Average rating

    7.96

  2. Squad number52Player nameBobb
    Average rating

    6.72

  3. Squad number16Player nameRodri
    Average rating

    6.69

  4. Squad number8Player nameKovacic
    Average rating

    6.50

  5. Squad number10Player nameGrealish
    Average rating

    6.41

  6. Squad number21Player nameGómez
    Average rating

    6.40

  7. Squad number27Player nameMatheus Nunes
    Average rating

    6.31

  8. Squad number11Player nameDoku
    Average rating

    6.24

  9. Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
    Average rating

    6.14

  10. Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
    Average rating

    6.01

  11. Squad number82Player nameLewis
    Average rating

    5.96

  12. Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
    Average rating

    5.93

  13. Squad number18Player nameOrtega
    Average rating

    5.91

  14. Squad number24Player nameGvardiol
    Average rating

    5.85

  15. Squad number25Player nameAkanji
    Average rating

    5.82

Aston Villa

  1. Squad number24Player nameDurán

    Average rating

    6.54

  2. Squad number27Player nameRogers

    Average rating

    6.28

  3. Squad number19Player nameDiaby

    Average rating

    6.20

  4. Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz

    Average rating

    6.19

  5. Squad number4Player nameKonsa

    Average rating

    6.13

  6. Squad number12Player nameDigne

    Average rating

    6.08

  7. Squad number25Player nameOlsen

    Average rating

    6.07

  8. Squad number3Player nameDiego Carlos

    Average rating

    6.01

  9. Squad number17Player nameLenglet

    Average rating

    6.00

  10. Squad number47Player nameIroegbunam

    Average rating

    5.97

  11. Squad number22Player nameZaniolo

    Average rating

    5.91

  12. Squad number71Player nameKellyman

    Average rating

    5.09

  13. Squad number31Player nameBailey

    Average rating

    5.03

  14. Squad number8Player nameTielemans

    Average rating

    4.87

  15. Squad number15Player nameÁlex Moreno

    Average rating

    4.76

  16. Squad number16Player nameChambers

    Average rating

    4.65

Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-2-3-1

18Ortega

82Lewis3Rúben Dias25Akanji24Gvardiol

16Rodri20Bernardo Silva

11Doku47Foden10Grealish

19Álvarez

  • 18Ortega
  • 82Lewis
  • 3Rúben Dias
  • 25Akanji
  • 24Gvardiol
  • 16RodriSubstituted forNunesat 75′minutes
  • 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forKovacicat 75′minutes
  • 11DokuSubstituted forGómezat 80′minutes
  • 47FodenSubstituted forBobbat 80′minutes
  • 10GrealishBooked at 32mins
  • 19Álvarez

Substitutes

  • 5Stones
  • 8Kovacic
  • 9Haaland
  • 17De Bruyne
  • 21Gómez
  • 27Nunes
  • 33Carson
  • 52Bobb
  • 76Susoho

Aston Villa

Formation 4-2-3-1

25Olsen

4Konsa3Diego Carlos17Lenglet12Digne

47Iroegbunam6Douglas Luiz

19Diaby27Rogers22Zaniolo

24Durán

  • 25Olsen
  • 4Konsa
  • 3Diego Carlos
  • 17Lenglet
  • 12Digne
  • 47IroegbunamSubstituted forTielemansat 63′minutes
  • 6Douglas LuizBooked at 38minsSubstituted forChambersat 64′minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 19DiabySubstituted forBaileyat 63′minutes
  • 27Rogers
  • 22ZanioloSubstituted forKellymanat 77′minutes
  • 24DuránSubstituted forMorenoat 71′minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Tielemans
  • 14P Torres
  • 15Moreno
  • 16Chambers
  • 18Gauci
  • 29Kesler-Hayden
  • 31Bailey
  • 71Kellyman
Referee:
Darren England

Attendance:
53,422

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Manchester City 4, Aston Villa 1.

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