by He was billed as Erling Haaland’s big return to Manchester City’s starting XI. Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who is rehabilitating after a longer spell on the sidelines following his betting ban, may be able to leave.
For a while, there was a glimmer that Neal Maupay could beat them both when he gave Brentford a shock blow midway through Mark Flekken’s memorable first half in the home goal. But in the end, it was all about another striker whose talents on nights like this seem irresistible.
The Premier League title is back in City’s hands after Liverpool beat Arsenal on Sunday – just when they like it. Phil Foden had the ball at his feet in front of goal, even his head at one point, which is exactly where he likes it.
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Foden doesn’t score much with his head but he did so here to put City 2-1 up. He had found the equalizer – chest, bounce and finish – and saved the best of the hat-trick, bursting on Haaland’s lay-off, every touch perfect, giving anyone close to him the slightest sniff inside the area .
City are on an ominous roll, winning all seven games since winning the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Pep Guardiola recently said that the desire of his players to win and keep winning can help. Brentford had done the double over City last season but nobody in the red and white stripes could stop Foden. Will anyone be able to do the same with his team? The question pounds with increasing force.
The thing about City is that resistance seems futile. Few have resisted as brilliantly as Flekken did during an extraordinary display in the first half, the statistics show that he made eight saves, most of them crazy. He even got an assist for Maupay’s goal. By full-time, however, he was a footnote.
Maupay’s goal was a blow for the sky blues, stunning for its surprise value as Flekken’s goal was then under siege. Everything changed – briefly – when he sent a long ball forward, although perhaps Toney should have been credited with the correct assist. He set a screen against Nathan Aké, basketball style, which allowed Flekken’s clearance to continue to run to Maupay, who went past Ederson.
Maupay seems to take a disproportionate amount of joy in winding up his opponent. He would tackle Rúben Dias on a defensive corner, earn a yellow card for a late crunch on Rodri and have a lengthy exchange with Guardiola in the closing stages, apparently having said something to Kyle Walker. No one can say that Maupay is not on fire in front of goal. He has now scored in five consecutive games. Maybe he should stick to that.
Guardiola was delighted to give Haaland his first start since breaking his leg in early December. For the first time since the opening game of the league season, Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were joined by the City manager at the start. It’s all part of the narrative that the club is ready to tackle the finish line.
Brentford’s poor run of results has been well documented – it’s now seven wins in eight, although they deserve more with their performances – and Flekken was asked to deny Juliaán Álvarez twice and Walker in the first 15 minutes. Those in front of him put their bodies on the line, one block from Ethan Pinnock to block Haaland in a crucial seven minutes.
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Flekken saved a one-on-one against Haaland after Vitaly Janelt’s loose goal and did well to keep out Josko Gvardiol’s blast, and City’s other near misses in the first half, including when goalkeeper Bernardo Silva beat Mads Roerslev to fly wide.
Brentford threatened before the interval when Ederson managed to clear Sergio Reguilón’s cross-cum-shot and Dias had to make an important intervention to keep Janelt and Ederson off their line. Foden, however, finally restored parity in stoppage time after Pinnock cleared a de Bruyne cross.
Phil Foden’s hat-trick earned Manchester City an important comeback win over Brentford – and also took the weekend’s total over 10 top-flight games to 45 – a new record since the Premier League was relegated to 20 teams in 1995.
The previous high mark of 44 has been achieved twice – in 2021 and 2023, overtaking the 43 goals scored in February 2011. 53 is the highest goal total in the Premier League era, set on the weekend final of the 1992-93 season with 22 teams.
45 goals (3-5 February 2024)
Everton 2-2 Tottenham, Brighton 4-1 C Palace, Burnley 2-2 Fulham, Newcastle 4-4 Luton, Sheffield Utd 0-5 Aston Villa; Bournemouth 1-1 Nottm Forest, Chelsea 2-4 Wolves, Manchester Utd 3-0 West Ham, Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool; Brentford 1-3 Manchester City.
44 goals (29 April-2 May 2023)
Brighton 6-0 Wolves, Brentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest, C Palace 4-3 West Ham; Bournemouth 4-1 Leeds, Fulham 1-2 Man City, Man Utd 1-0 Aston Villa, Newcastle 3-1 Southampton, Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham; Leicester 2-2 Everton; Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea.
44 goals (19-21 September 2021)
Everton 5-2 West Brom, Leeds 4-3 Fulham, Man Utd 1-3 C Palace, Arsenal 2-1 West Ham; Southampton 2-5 Spurs, Newcastle 0-3 Brighton, Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool, Leicester 4-2 Burnley;
Aston Villa 1-0 Sheffield Utd; Wolves 1-3 Man City.
43 goals (5-6 February 2011)
Aston Villa 2-2 Fulham, Everton 5-3 Blackpool, Man City 3-0 West Brom, Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal, Stoke 3-2 Sunderland, Spurs 2-1 Bolton, Wigan 4-3 Blackburn, Wolves 2-1 Man Utd; Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool; West Ham 0-1 Birmingham.
53 goals (8-9 May 1993)
Arsenal 3-0 C Palace, Blackburn 1-0 Sheffield Wed, Coventry 3-3 Leeds, Ipswich 2-1 Nottingham Forest, Liverpool 6-2 Spurs, Man City 2-5 Everton, Middlesbrough 3-3 Norwich, Oldham 4-3 Southampton, Sheffield Utd 4-2 Chelsea; QPR 2-1 Aston Villa, Wimbledon 1-2 Manchester Utd.
Against this City, it can feel relentless, inevitable and they took the lead on 53 minutes; after all Brentford’s hard work at the back, it was another soft concession. No one shut down De Bruyne and no one tracked Foden’s run. The cross was beautiful. Foden strained his neck muscles to generate the power and precision.
Brentford refused to stop believing. They created equal opportunities. Christian Nørgaard denied Dias’ big block and Toney overpowered a well-placed side-by-side volley. Foden would kill them.
“Only Phil will set his limits,” Guardiola said. “The way he moves in small spaces, his impact, you feel he can score. The movement is difficult to find and after being like a knife.”
