Brilliant Phil Foden makes Haaland forget with a hat trick at Manchester City

Manchester City did what it had to do in the Premier League on Wednesday evening. Manager Pep Guardiola's team was too strong for number four Aston Villa 4-1 and could thank Phil Foden for that. The club's child was good for a flawless hat-trick and therefore ensured that the Citizens staying in Arsenal's footsteps. Liverpool play on Thursday evening.

Guardiola decided to rest Erling Haaland, leaving Julián Álvarez at the point of attack. In addition to the Norwegian superstar, Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic, among others, were also on the bench. Nathan Aké and goalkeeper Ederson were missing.

Jack Grealish was Villa's most important player for years, but was once again booed by the supporters of his old club. The winger was at the heart of Manchester City's first opportunity. Álvarez was served by Grealish, but saw his attempt end up in the side netting.

It took a good ten minutes the Citizens would break the spell. Jérémy Doku reached the back line after a deep ball from Foden and reached Rodri with his withdrawn cross. The Spaniard then outwitted Villa keeper Robin Olsen, giving Manchester City an early lead: 1-0.

However, Villa only needed nine minutes to tie the score again at the Etihad Stadium. The Villains came out very quickly on the counter. Jhon Durán looked for a combination with Morgan Rogers around the home team's sixteen meters, which also worked. Face to face with Stefan Ortega, Durán did not fail: 1-1. The VAR checked to see if it was possibly offside, but that was not the case.

Manchester City was eagerly looking for the lead before half time. Álvarez saw his two attempts at the enemy goal come to nothing and a free kick from the Argentinian also ended up in the stands. A few minutes after that shot, it was Foden who claimed a free kick from an almost identical spot on the field. The left-footed Englishman shot with some fortune through the Villa wall and into the net behind Olsen: 2-1.

After a number of chances back and forth at the start of the second act, Foden increased the margin to two in the 62nd minute. The playmaker of the Citizens was the end point of a nice dribble from Rodri and scored his second goal of the evening: 3-1. It was clear that Foden was looking for his hat-trick after that goal.

That would still work twenty minutes before time. However, the Englishman went too ostentatiously to the ground around the enemy penalty area, according to referee Darren England, who therefore did not award a free kick. Foden jumped up and intercepted the ball straight from Calum Chambers. The latter then saw how Foden fired hard into the top right corner to complete his hat trick: 4-1.

Guardiola was able to keep his big guns on the bench due to the scoreline. Matheus Nunes, Kovacic, Sergio Gómez and Oscar Bobb were allowed to make an appearance. With them on the field, no more goals were scored, which means that Manchester City continues to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal. Liverpool can make the difference the Citizens expand again to three points on Thursday evening when they host Sheffield United at Anfield.

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