Phil Foden produced an outstanding display as his hat-trick put
as the champions came from behind to win 3-1 at
Neal Maupay
gave Brentford a surprise lead but
Foden
equalised just before half-time and he then added his second and third in the second half to claim the match ball.
How the match unfolded
Brentford made one change from their defeat to
Tottenham HotspurKeane Lewis-Potter
The big news for Man City was the return of Erling Haaland
, who was making his first start since a 1-0 loss against Aston Villa on 6 December. Kyle Walker Ruben Dais and Bernardo Silva also returned to the side
City started the match in control, with Mark Flekken
called into action early as he denied two long-range strikes from
and another from Walker.Julian Alvarez
However, it was Brentford who took a surprise lead in the 21st minute through Maupay as the French striker raced through on goal before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner.
, but the official assist went to Mark Flekken, who becomes the first goalkeeper to record an assist in the Premier League since April 2023, when Brighton’s
provided a goal against Brentford.
It is also a goal in a fifth consecutive appearance for Maupay in all competitions, his longest-ever scoring run for an English side.
Haaland then had a brilliant chance to equalise moments later when a poor backpass from
put him through on goal, but Flekken made another great save to keep Man City out.
Flekken was in inspired form in the first half, making nine saves, the most by any goalkeeper in a opening period since records began, but the visitors scored just before the break through Foden following a mistake from
is header fell kindly to the City player, who finished past the goalkeeper.
Kevin De Bruyne
Brentford pushed for an equaliser, with Maupay, Toney and
all going close, but they were unable to find their second goal.
Foden then completed his hat-trick and secured the win for Man City with 20 minutes to go as he finished off a well-worked move, assisted by Haaland.
Foden's third strike also meant it was a record number for goals in a single Matchweek, with 45 being scored across the 10 Premier League fixtures over the weekend.
's side ended the contest in comfortable fashion as they secure a fifth win in a row to move on to 49 points, two behind Liverpool, who have played a match more.
Brentford, who have lost seven of their last eight matches, remain in 15th on 22 points, three points above 18th-place
Everton
Brentford report Man City report
Key facts
Brentford have lost 26 points from leading positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side and more than they gave away in their previous two campaigns combined (23).
De Bruyne, registered his 105th Premier League assist (behind only Ryan Giggs – 162 and
-111), with the Belgian racking up 33 assists in all competitions since the start of last season, nine more than any other Premier League player (
City are only the second team to win four Premier League away games in a row having trailed in each of them, after
Manchester United
between September and December 2020 (six in total).
Brentford have taken just three points from their last eight Premier League games (W1 L7), after picking up 13 from their previous eight (W4 D1 L3).