Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates after scoring a objective in opposition to Brentford FC at Brentford Community Stadium on February 5, 2024
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Phil Foden grabbed the highlight from fit-again Manchester City superstars Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne by scoring a hat trick in a come-from-behind 3-1 win at Brentford that moved the champions two factors behind Liverpool in a congested English Premier League summit on Monday.
City’s opponents would possibly have the ability to cease Haaland from scoring or shut down the house for help king De Bruyne, however there’ll all the time be a top-class participant someplace within the group to inflict the harm.
Foden was that participant in opposition to Brentford as he led City’s restoration after Neal Maupay’s Twenty first-minute objective in opposition to the run of play for the hosts.
The England midfielder equalized in first-half stoppage time by pouncing on a poor defensive clearance, headed dwelling the go-ahead objective within the 53rd, and accomplished his second profession hat trick within the seventieth with a piercing run and composed end.
“It’s probably the best form I’ve had in a City shirt for a long time, consistently. Long may that continue,” Foden mentioned. His objective tally improved to 14 in all competitions.
Foden has gained all of it together with his boyhood membership after coming via the academy however hasn’t all the time been an everyday. He is now and is especially having fun with taking part in in a central attacking-midfield function — the place he’s nearer to the striker and extra of a objective menace — quite than out on the wing.
“It’d help if I played in one position and learnt that position every game,” Foden mentioned of his choice for a central function. “I’m an individual that adapts and performs in loads of positions when wanted. I do know on this Man City aspect I’m going to try this — play in loads of positions — and I must be prepared.
“I’m just enjoying playing in the middle. That’s where I see myself playing my best football so hopefully I can keep getting more game time there.”
City is placing collectively a well-recognized profitable streak within the second half of the season — that’s 5 in a row within the league since Dec. 27 and 9 straight in all competitions — and has all of its key gamers again wholesome, with high scorer Haaland making his first begin after a virtually two-month harm absence.
It makes City the favourite for the title as soon as once more, with Pep Guardiola’s group having a sport in hand over Liverpool and third-placed Arsenal. Only two factors separates the highest three.
Arsenal is tied for factors with City in third, however has an inferior objective distinction.
Haaland got here off within the 86th minute. He didn’t add to his 14 objectives for the marketing campaign — tied for essentially the most with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah — however did lay on the third for Foden, who was thrown a City scarf from the group as he celebrated in entrance of the away followers. Foden wrapped it spherical his neck earlier than chucking it again into the supporters.
“He is playing his best season since we have been together,” Guardiola mentioned.
City had been surprised by Maupay’s objective that got here from an unlikely supply. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken’s objective kick went straight down the center of the sector, between two defenders disturbed by the presence of Ivan Toney, and into the trail of Maupay.
The French striker slotted it dwelling and City was shedding to the group that did the home-and-away double over the champions final season.
Foden made certain that gained’t occur this time spherical, grabbing the equalizer after Ethan Pinnock made a poor clearing header that looped up straight to the midfielder. Foden managed the ball and produced a peaceful end.
De Bruyne, making a second straight begin after his personal lengthy harm layoff, was harmful all through however was struggling to seek out his man within the space earlier than he delivered a pinpoint cross for Foden to move dwelling his second. His third would quickly comply with in a efficiency that will need to have excited England coach Gareth Southgate forward of the European Championship this summer time.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
