Manchester City 4, Aston Villa 1
Phil Foden scored a hat trick as Manchester City made up for their frustrations at the weekend by hitting four goals past Aston Villa.
City were back to their entertaining best up against an Aston Villa side who briefly threatened but were swept aside by some clinical finishing by Foden as City re-energised their Premier League campaign with one of their best performances of the season to mark their first win of the season against a top 5 side.
City had taken an early lead through Rodri but were quickly pegged back after Jhon Duran exchanged passes with ex-City youth player Morgan Rogers as Villa sliced through City’s midfield on a counter attack.
But City hit back, retaking the lead just before half time when Foden’s free kick went through a gap in the Villa wall after the England midfielder was fouled by Douglas Luiz.
Rodri then set up Foden for his second before the England starlet’s hat trick came after he pounced on a Clement Lenglet mistake to rifle home from the edge of the area.
It was the third Premier League hat trick for the 23-year-old who now has 81 career goals for City.
Embed from Getty ImagesTEAM NEWS – Manchester City 4, Aston Villa 1
Manchester City made four changes from the side that drew against Arsenal.
There was a late sixth change for Aston Villa who had to bring in substitute keeper Robin Olsen for Emiliano Martinez.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 4, Aston Villa 1
Stefan Ortega: 8. Great save to deny Jhon Duran who was offside and tipped away a Douglas Luiz shot in the second half and then another outstanding save to stop a back header from Clement Lenglet.
Rico Lewis: 7. Drafted in at right back and up against Nicola Zaniolo. Fired a shot wide after Jeremy Doku set him up.
Manuel Akanji: 7. Difficult task up against Jhon Duran.
Ruben Dias: 7. Unspectacular show in defence. One second half mistake could have been costly.
Josko Gvardiol: 7. Had a battle on his hands with Mousa Diaby, improved steadily. Burst forward at the end an almost set up a fifth City goal for Sergio Gomez.
Rodri: 8. Majestic. Broke the deadlock early and mopped up in midfield as he took control. Set up Phil Foden for the second of his goals.
Phil Foden: 9. Busy in midfield, even popped up in defence. Earned a free kick from which he scored after 45+1. Superb work running in midfield and setting up chances with sudden and unexpected changes in direction. Two stunning goals from the edge of the area handed the points to Manchester City as he scored a hat trick.
Bernardo Silva: 6. Pushed into a more advanced midfield role near Jack Grealish but relatively quiet, not his usual self. Had a shot saved in the second half and got stuck in as City improved.
Jeremy Doku: 7. Intricate movement. Put plenty of balls into the box and laid on the opening goal. Could have scored in the second half but his shot was saved by Robin Olsen.
Jack Grealish: 7. Booed incessantly by the away fans. Volleyed a shot wide but was soon up to speed with the game, running forward through the Villa defence and making Unai Emery panic on the sidelines. Getting back towards his best after strong second half.
Julian Alvarez: 7. Restored to his favoured centre forward role. Hit an early shot into the side netting, useful set pieces and work rate up front. Had shots blocked and a header tipped over the bar by Robin Olsen and looked menacing – deserved a goal but couldn’t get one.
Matheus Nunes (on for Rodri, 75): 6. Showed energy and a sight of goal – but shot wide.
Mateo Kovacic (on for Bernardo Silva, 75): 6. Filled in as the deep midfielder with the game won.
Oscar Bobb (on for Phil Foden, 80): No time to mark.
Sergio Gomez (on for Jeremy Doku, 80): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City 4, Aston Villa 1
Man City 1, Aston Villa 0: 11. Rodri rifled home the opening goal from 7 yards after Jeremy Doku got behind the Aston Villa goal and cut it back.
Man City 1, Aston Villa 1: 20. City undone by a 1-2 between ex-City midfielder Morgan Rogers and Jhon Duran after Julian Alvarez was tackled on the edge of the Villa box and City let Villa counter right through them.
Man City 2, Aston Villa 1: 45+1. Phil Foden hit a 25 yard free kick through a gap in the Aston Villa wall and past Robin Olsen after he was brought down by Douglas Luiz.
Man City 3, Aston Villa 1: 62. Rodri made his way to the edge of the box, slipped the ball to Phil Foden who fired in his second goal of the night from 17 yards out.
Man City 4, Aston Villa 1: 69. Mistake by Clement Lenglet allowed Phil Foden a sight of goal from the edge of the area and he smashed it into the top corner.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 4, Aston Villa 1
Man City: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri (Nunes 75), Foden (Bobb 80), Bernardo Silva (Kovacic 75), Doku (Gomez 80), Grealish, Alvarez
Man City Subs not used: Carson, Stones, Haaland, De Bruyne, Susoho
Booked: Grealish 32 (foul on Douglas Luiz)
Goals: Rodri 11; Foden 45+1, 62, 69
Aston Villa: Olsen, Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Digne, Iroegbunam (Tielemans 63), Luiz (Chambers 64), Diaby (Bailey 63), Rogers, Zaniolo (Kellyman 71), Duran (Moreno 71)
Aston Villa Subs not used: Gauci, Torres, Kesler-Hayden
Booked: Luiz 37 (foul on Jack Grealish); Chambers 90+4 (foul on Jack Grealish)
Goal: Duran 20
Referee: Darren England