Phil Foden scored a hat trick as Manchester City swept aside Brentford after they threatened to derail their title charge.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe result put the Blues back into second place in the Premier League after their ninth successive win in all competitions and they look in ominous form after starting this run in Saudi Arabia on their way to lifting the FIFA Club World Cup.
And they could go top for the first time since November if they beat Everton this weekend after ensuring that Brentford have now dropped 26 points from winning positions this season – the worst record in the league.
And with the win tonight City have become only the second team after United to win four Premier League games in a row having trailed in each of them.
Brentford had earlier taken a shock lead through Neal Maupay and while City peppered the Bees goal they were frustrated until Foden scored either side of half time to put the Blues into the lead before completing his hat trick in the 70th minute with his 14th goal of the season.
Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken had been a one man barrier preventing City from scoring until the end of the first half.
It was Foden’s second career hat trick after his first famously came during the 6-3 thrashing of Manchester United in the derby in October 2022.
And it also meant that a new record of 45 goals in a 20 team game week was set.
Erling Haaland made his first start since returning from a two month injury lay off.
John Stones, Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes, and Jeremy Doku were rested from the 3-1 win over Burnley on Wednesday with Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Haaland coming in to the side.
Ruben Dias had to clear the ball early on but Alvarez was twice denied by Mark Flekken with long range efforts before Walker also chanced his arm from a distance.
For all their pressure City could not convert a chance and were stung with a route one goal.
Brentford took the lead after 21 minutes when a long goal kick by Flekken was left by Ivan Toney and the ball bounced into the path of Neal Maupay who slotted home calmly past Ederson who had an erratic time in goal tonight.
Flekken’s superb save denied Haaland after he broke free following a poor pass back by Maupay – the Norwegian couldn’t get any lift on the ball which would have taken it over the Dutchman.
Josko Gvardiol was denied by Flekken as the chances racked up but Brentford stood firm.
Ederson had to push a curling Sergio Reguilon ball into the area away as Brentford retained a goal threat.
The Brazilian was saved by Dias as a slip almost allowed Brentford a free hit – he had early come out of his goal a couple of times and been exposed.
Flekken spilled a Foden shot but the ball squirmed away to safety.
City finally got the goal their play deserved when Foden snatched the equaliser on the stroke of half time after Ethan Pinnock’s defensive header from De Bruyne’s chip into the box fell to the England man who chested the ball down before poking it past Flekken at last.
By half time City had posted 17 goal attempts with 10 shots on target from 72% of possession – the most that City had ever made in a half but Flekken made nine saves in the first half – the most in a half since records began.
Foden doubled the lead after 53 minutes, reacting first to a brilliant ball into the box by De Bruyne to nod the ball past Flekken from 8 yards out.
Mats Roerslev hit a wayward shot over the bar while De Bruyne’s deflected shot was collected by Flekken.
Dias and Gvardiol blocked shots by Christian Norgaard and Maupay as Brentford looked for the equaliser.
Rodri’s shot made it 12 saves for Flekken before Toney volleyed over the bar.
And Foden completed his hat trick in the 70th minute when he drove home from eight yards out after receiving a lay off from Haaland as City moved the ball quickly into the final third.
Jeremy Doku replaced Bernardo Silva immediately after this.
Alvarez had a shot saved by Flekken as City kept pushing till the end.
Haaland was replaced by Mateo Kovacic for the last 4 minutes as City finished the game with 15 shots on target from 25 attempts by the Blues – the most in the last six seasons – who had 72% of possession.