Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Phil Foden hat-trick continues title chase
City and Villa look to keep the pressure on at the top of the table as they clash at the Etihad Stadium
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Phil Foden’s sublime hat-trick fired Manchester City to victory against Aston Villa to keep up their pursuit of Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Areta’s side went top earlier on Wednesday evening with a win over Luton but the defending champions ensured they remained in touch with a strong 4-1 victory.
While it was a controlled collective performance, they had Foden to thank for a commanding victory. After Jhon Duran had responded to Rodri’s early opener, the England international curled home a free kick to nudge Manchester City in front just before the interval.
Foden then swept home from the edge of the box before producing a magnificent strike from distance to complete his hat-trick and secure all three points. It meant Pep Guardiola could leave Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench, with the two stars rested in a hectic fortnight of football.
Unai Emery’s visitors were without an injured Ollie Watkins and suspended John McGinn, and struggled to produce consistent threat. Aston Villa remain fourth, two points ahead of Tottenham, who have a game in hand.
Re-live all the action below, plus get the latest Premier League odds and tips right here:
Manchester City 1-1 Aston Villa, 23 minutes
There’s a vim and a verve to this game now, Aston Villa striking with virtually their first clear opportunity to remind the hosts and the crowd of their attacking threat. It is their ability to play in many different ways that has driven their transformation - they probably would have started thinking they would frustrate first, but knowing that they had that attacking edge to turn to if they fell behind.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 ASTON VILLA (Jhon Duran, 20 minutes)
Aston Villa level!
It’s another peach of a goal! Aston Villa win the ball back on the edge of their own area and unfurl their front four, Nicolo Zaniolo exchanging with Morgan Rogers in the inside left channel and Moussa Diaby offering width on the right. Jhon Duran slides out to the left and combines with Rogers in a give and go, accelerating beyond Ruben Dias and then beating Stefan Ortega across his body into the far corner.
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa, 18 minutes
Unai Emery and Pep Guardiola offer their demonstrative points as Aston Villa are robbed in possession near halfway, allowing Manuel Akanji and Jeremy Doku to come forward. Doku uses the centre-half’s overlapping run to dive inside and release a shot, but it is blocked away.
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa, 15 minutes
Jhon Duran tries to reply quickly, testing Stefan Ortega with a sharp shot, but the striker had already strayed offside.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 Aston Villa (Rodri, 11 minutes)
A lovely flowing move and Rodri sweeps home!
Beautiful build-up play from Manchester City, pulling the left side of Aston Villa’s two banks of four out of shape. Rico Lewis adds an option and Phil Foden pulls back into space, turning to find Jeremy Doku sprinting up the right.
Doku’s cut-back is pinpoint precise, perfectly into the path of Rodri, who finishes with aplomb.
Manchester City 0-0 Aston Villa, 10 minutes
A scramble in the Aston Villa box gets the crowd going, Clement Lenglet’s intervention timely with both Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden looking to prod home. Foden seems to be relishing his more central role, pushing up near Alvarez at every opportunity.
Rodri unleashes a speculator from range, but there isn’t the puff behind his effort to test Robin Olsen low to the goalkeeper’s right.
Manchester City 0-0 Aston Villa, 8 minutes
A free kick on the right is swung in by Phil Foden, but his inward curve takes it too close to Robin Olsen, swift off his line to gather at forehead height. Solid work from the stand-in stopper, deputising for the poorly Emi Martinez.
Erling Haaland left on the bench by Manchester City
Manchester City 0-0 Aston Villa, 6 minutes
This is a worry for Aston Villa - Jhon Duran is down after a clash with Josko Gvardiol, and there’s limited attacking cover n the bench.
Thankfully, he’s back on his feet soon enough, though rubbing at his ear.
Manchester City 0-0 Aston Villa, 3 minutes
Manchester City have begun as expected, it seems, with Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku prodiving the width and Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden more central in front of Rodri and, in possession, inserting full back Rico Lewis.
Nicolo Zaniolo looks to be playing off the left for Aston Villa.
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