5 talking points as Phil Foden inspires Man City to send emphatic title message
Phil Foden ran Brentford ragged to ensure Manchester City's title charge was handed a boost with an impressive 3-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Pep Guardiola would have kept a keen eye on Sunday afternoon's showdown between City's two title challengers Arsenal and Liverpool. The Gunners got the better of the Reds, with Guardiola getting a favour from his former asisstant Mikel Arteta.
Less than 24 hours later and City have leapfrogged the north Londoners, now breathing down the necks of Liverpool as a result of this dominant display.
Julian Alvarez stung the palms of Bees' goalkeeper Mark Flekken on two occasions early on, before Kyle Walker also tested the shot-stopper from range but he was more than up to the task. It was a sign of things to come, but five minutes later and City were stunned, with Neal Maupay firing the hosts in front.
As expected, once City found themselves behind - an onslaught on the Brentford goal followed. Flekken was called into action nine times before the half-time whistle was blown. Eventually, that pressure told and Phil Foden drew the champions level after an Ethan Pinnock botched clearance.
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Less than 10 minutes into the second-half and both Foden and City had their second. The 23-year-old headed beyond the despairing dive of Flekken after a delightful ball from De Bruyne. Foden was not done there, capping off a sensational performance with his third goal of the evening in the 69th minute in the form of an elegant strike inside the area.
Mirror Football has analysed five talking points from a game lit up by the dazzling genius of one of this country's finest young talents.
Foden the hat-trick hero
Phil Foden bagged a hat-trick for Man CityCity's brightest academy graduate was too hot to handle in west London. His first may have fell to his feet rather fortunately, but Foden still had to finish and he did so in trademark style.
The attacking midfielder took the ball down on his chest and fired through the legs of Pinnock, leaving Flekken rooted to the spot between the sticks. Shortly after the interval, he was on the scoresheet again with an expertly-taken header.
If he had some dismal defending to thank for his first, it was the brilliance of De Bruyne that helped him bag a brace. The Belgian's cross was delivered with typical precision and perfectly weighted, before Foden did the rest. If that particular duo can put in more performances like this one between now and the end of the season, Liverpool and Arsenal may have to battle it out for second place.
Some neat link-up play with Haaland meant Foden had a hat-trick with 20 minutes to spare. The Three Lions star slotted his third strike into the bottom left-corner to complete what is the second City trio of his career and ensure he'll be taking the match ball back to Manchester.
Flekken's on fire (but it's all in vain)
Mark Flekken was in fine form for Brentford against Man CityA hearty chorus of 'there's only one Mark Flekken' rang out around the Gtech after the shot-stopper's fifth save inside the first 30 minutes to deny Josko Gvardiol. The Brentford goalkeeper was ensuring his side stayed in the tie early on, with a number of stellar stops.
The pick of the bunch from the first-half came when the Dutchman denied Erling Haaland, who looked certain to score after capitalising on a sloppy backpass from Vitaly Janelt.
It's a position that the City superstar has been in so many times before and has found the net almost every single time, but the leg of Flekken kept him at bay on this occasion. Remarkably, the Bees goalkeeper even bagged himself an assist when his goalkick sent Maupay through.
Not even Flekken and his form could do anything to keep Foden out, with the ball falling favourably to the England ace from close-range. It was a cruel blow, with Flekken being robbed of the first-half clean-sheet he deserved courtesy of Pinnock's disastrous cleared header.
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By the time the full-time whistle was blown, the Brentford No.1 had made 12 saves.
Maupay among the goals
Neal Maupay opened the scoringFresh off the back of scoring against Tottenham last week, Maupay was back on the scoresheet with a composed finish that left the onrushing Ederson with no chance.
Flekken's goalkick evaded a touch from anyone else, with Ivan Toney showcasing what else he offers besides goals when he pinned Nathan Ake in the build-up by backing into him. That decision from the Brentford talisman allowed Maupay to dart through completley unchallenged.
It was the kind of chance that strikers are expected to score, but can often be deceptively difficult, particularly when their is 'keeper of Ederson's calibre sprinting off of his line to intervene. However, Maupay displayed the kind of calmness that has often evaded his finishing to slot home.
Rare rule rears its head
(BeIN Sports TV GRAB)Every now and then, the lesser known laws of the game come into play and that was the case when Maupay bagged Brentford's goal. City certainly defended it like a side that were unaware of the fact an attacker cannot be offside from a goalkick.
The French forward was standing behind City's high line when Flekken's boot connected the ball, and as a result was left unchallenged. Toney made himself a problem for Ake, who had his hands full trying to grapple with the 27-year-old.
All while that's going on, Maupay made his way in behind to score. A number of City players approached Jarred Gillet to appeal, while others looked on expectantly at the linesman waiting for a flag to raise that never came.
What this means for the title race
Man City's title destiny remains in their own hands (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)City came into this game three points adrift of second-placed Arsenal, five points behind league-leaders Liverpool. Both Arteta and Jurgen Klopp would have been delighted watching Maupay's opener, but class always shines through in the end.
Now, City sit just two points behind Liverpool having played one game less. As for Arsenal, they've been bumped down to third due to City's 15th win of the season, though the two teams may be level on points, the Gunners have also played one game more.
Brentford now languish as low as 15th, perhaps a touch too close to the relegation zone in the eyes of Thomas Frank. Only three points separate the Bees from 18th placed Everton.
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