Manchester City returned to winning ways tonight in the Premier League as they beat Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium, with Phil Foden scoring a stunning hat-trick.
After a disappointing result and performance against Arsenal at the weekend, City were much improved tonight, against a great side.
City took the lead early on through Rodri, after lovely build up play from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku down the right side.
Villa then equalised through Jhon Duran, who breached the City backline well, before finishing past Stefan Ortega Moreno into the far corner.
But City restored their lead through Foden – and there was an element of luck about the goal. The England star took a free kick from the edge of the box, with Nicolo Zaniolo moving away from the end of the wall to create a small gap.
Foden then grabbed City’s third and his second in the second-half, scoring with a first-time finish after lovely footwork from Rodri. He completed his hat-trick in stunning fashion minutes later.
Foden was brilliant once again tonight, and during the game, Ally McCoist likened the star to an England legend…
Ally McCoist says Phil Foden is like Paul Gascoigne as Manchester City defeat Aston Villa
Foden did not have the best of outings against Arsenal on Sunday, and will have been very determined to make up for that tonight.
And he certainly did that, with the £225,000-a-week man playing a starring role in tonight’s victory, along with Rodri.
Foden was at his elusive best, playing a central role with Kevin De Bruyne rested, and Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish deployed on the wings.
Foden was mesmerising in between the lines, and as ever, worked his socks off for the team.
He undoubtedly further his case to be the PFA Player of the Season and midway through the second-half, McCoist spoke about him in glowing terms.
TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher said that Foden reminded him of Gascoigne with the way he carries the ball, to which McCoist replied: “Do you know what the both of them have in common? They don’t need to be looking at the ball when they’re moving with it. I’ve noticed that about Foden. Gascoigne was brilliant at it as well. In full flow, they were looking around and they knew where the ball was. That’s a real talent.”
McCois then said after Foden’s stunning third goal into the top corner: “He’s been magic, he really has.”
Foden the superstar
This was quite an incredible performance from Foden, who continues to be City’s main man this season.
The star actually started this game a little quiet, but burst into life midway through the first-half. He linked up fantastically well with the likes of Rodri, Rico Lewis and Julian Alvarez, and the Villa players could not get near him.
Foden has previously won the PFA Young Player of the Year award twice. But he is surely heading for the main award if he keeps this level up until the end of the season.
He may even win it regardless of whether City win the Premier League title or not.