Brentford 1-3 Manchester City: Phil Foden bags treble as Pep Guardiola's side go second in Premier League

A hat-trick from Phil Foden, three different finishes supreme in conception and execution, gave Manchester City a 3-1 victory over Brentford - their ninth win in a row and fifth in the Premier League.

They now sit second in the table, two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand, while Brentford, who were again excellent in defeat, languish just three points above the relegation zone.

Both sides played well in a first half of terrific invention and tempo. Though City dominated, they were mainly kept to long shots while Brentford were aggressive and intelligent in possession, so it was not totally surprising when they went in front, a clever route-one move ending with Neal Maupay’s fine take and finish.

But just as Brentford thought they’d somehow made it to half-time, Foden seized upon a loose ball and conjured a fine equaliser.

City, in typical style, were soon in front, Foden flicking a fine stooping header into the corner, and he made the game safe with 20 minutes still to play, combining with the returning Erling Haaland to complete his hat-trick.

Phil Foden is a player who has been brilliant at every age-group and in all company. There was never any serious doubt he'd be good enough to play for City, who are the best side in the world, but he's not yet a reference-point player, good though he's been.

He's always had the ability, though, and now seems cemented into Pep Guardiola's starting XI. He did not have one of his better nights tonight in terms of his all-round play, but the most important thing any attacking player can do, as he noted after the game, is score and create goals.

What he also said is that he likes playing in the middle, and if he's playing at his best, that is his best position. But more important than his best level is his average level, because what marks out the best players is consistent excellence. Foden has taken a while to get to this point, and at 23 he's still improving, but ultimately Guardiola now purrs about him as he purrs about Bernardo Silva, and there can be little praise greater than that.

Three fantastic finishes, and the sense that there's a ludicrous quantity of everything yet to come.

Brentford: Flekken 8, Collins 7, Pinnock 6, Mee 7, Roerslev 6, Jensen 6, Norgaard 7, Janelt 6, Reguilon 7, Toney 7, Maupay 7. Subs: Lewis-Potter 6, Yarmoliuk 6, Damsgaard 6, Ajer 6, Baptiste 6.

Man City: Ederson 5, Walker 7, Dias 6, Ake 6, Gvardiol 7, Rodri 6, Bernardo 7, Alvarez 7, De Bruyne 9, Foden 9, Haaland 7. Subs: Doku 7, Kovacic 6.

7’ - DEFENDING!
City get De Bruyne in space down the right, he picks out Haaland with a low cut-back ... and Pinnock slides in to make a tremendous block! That looked a lot like 0-1.

21’ - GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Man City (Maupay) A perfect Brentford goal. Flekken hammers long, Toney eases Ake away, and Maupay pounces, gathering possessing and streaking away, drawing Ederson before slipping past him. Great, old skool goal, with a very modern twist.

24’ - HAALAND IS IN!
A terrible pass, from Janelt for Collins, is intercepted by the Goalmonster, he eases into the box ... and Flekken again saves well! Very similar chance to Maupay's, different outcome!

45+3’ - GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Man City (Foden) You're fine until you're not. De Bruyne puts a testing ball into the box and Pinnock can't get into a decent position before he heads clear ... which allows Foden to chest down beautifully and lash a first-time finish low into the net! Superbly taken.

53’ - GOAL! Brentford 1-2 Man City (Foden) City power-stroke it about, then when De Bruyne picks it up outside the box, near the left corner, he picks a delectable inswinging cross that Foden, swifter of foot and thought that the Brentford defence, stoops to flick a sensational header across Flekken and into the far corner. Two goals in seven minutes.

70’ - GOAL! Brentford 1-3 Man City (Foden) It's a hat-trick! And what a hat-trick! A ball from Ake into Haaland, he touches off and in a second Foden has wriggled like a little eel, away from his man, through the middle, slipping another expert's finish past Flekken. Brentford will do well to come back from that.

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