Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Phil Foden hat-trick continues title chase

If hat-tricks used to be Erling Haaland’s personal domain, a rival is emerging. The Norwegian may have the largest collection of match balls at Manchester City but he had a watching brief as Phil Foden scored his second treble of 2024 and his third in 19 months. For someone who isn’t a striker, Foden is contriving to outscore virtually all of them – if not his Norwegian teammate – and his evisceration of Aston Villa took him into previously uncharted territory. He now has 21 goals for the season, reaching 20 for the first time in his career.

“I’m just loving my football at the moment. I know I am capable of scoring goals, and today I showed that. I’m delighted.

“I always want to better last season, get more goal contributions. I’m doing more. I see myself as a really technical player and I think I can do that more in the middle. The manager has said before that I will grow into that position because I was always going so quick; I think I’m getting the balance right.

“I always try to arrive in the box. You get at least five goals in the season arriving in the box late. There’s still a lot to improve on. I don’t actually practice free kicks, but I felt confident, and Julian gave it to me. It worked out!”

So Manchester City move to within a point of Arsenal and the summit of the Premier League table, though Liverpool will be back on top if they beat Sheffield United tomorrow night. Pep Guardiola will be pleased to have got through the game unscathed, with a fresh Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne to bring back in.

“Today we played amazing from the first minute. We conceded the goal, but we kept pace in the game, and in general it was one of the best of the season.

“We knew that we had to have more players in the box from the game against Arsenal. That was the message from the beginning of the game. I want to help the team as much as possible - it’s not my role to score goals, but I know I can do more in the final third. It’s something I’ve been working on and focussing on.

“Phil Foden has grown every year since I’ve been here. He can score from wherever he wants. He has a special quality - I’m so happy for him.”

Almost five! Sergio Gomez clips Josko Gvardiol’s cutback goalwards, but strikes the outside of the post.

An untimely loss of footing for Leon Bailey, showing off his impressive stride length until his studs fail him.

Into four added minutes...and a great chance for Alex Moreno! The full-back arrives at the far post onto a corner which seems to have cleared everyone, but can’t make contact on the half volley.

Aston Villa aren’t chasing overly hard, the legs weary and the task too tall. Brentford, who drew 0-0 in a snoozefest with Brighton earlier, are the visitors to Villa Park on Saturday.

Manchester City of course have a tight turnaround to Saturday lunchtime’s encounter with Crystal Palace, something that Pep Guardiola was already chuntering about ahead of kick off. Right now, though, the Manchester City manager looks rather more content than his Aston Villa counterpart, Unai Emery cutting an exasperated figure on the touchline as his chase fruitlessly with the hosts calm in possession.

Matheus Nunes turns in midfield and surges forward, releasing a drive that rises and rises over the crossbar.

Phil Foden’s night is over. He takes an ovation from the crowd as Oscar Bobb replaces him, with Sergio Gomez also stepping in for Jeremy Doku.