Phil Foden scored his second Premier League hat-trick as Manchester City fought back from a goal down to see off a spirited Brentford 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Thomas Frank's side were in dreamland as Neal Maupay gave the Bees the lead thanks to an assist from an unlikely source in Mark Flekken, who made a number of excellent saves in the first half, only to be beaten by Foden for the first time on the stroke of the break.
The England international found the mark again just eight minutes into the second period before completing a terrific treble with 20 minutes remaining, as Pep Guardiola's resurgent charges won a Premier League away game after conceding the first goal for the fourth time in a row.
For the first time since the opening weekend of the Premier League season, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland were named in Guardiola's starting XI, while Tottenham Hotspur loanee Sergio Reguilon made an expected return to the Bees' lineup.
Blue shirts quickly flooded into the Brentford half in the opening exchanges, although Flekken repelled the champions time and time again, keeping out a pair of Julian Alvarez efforts and a thunderous Kyle Walker drive inside the opening 15 minutes.
After his crucial contributions to keep the visitors at bay, Flekken's wonderful start to the contest saw the Dutchman register an unexpected assist for the game's opening goal, as Guardiola's men were powerless to defend a route-one goal kick in the 21st minute.
Ivan Toney and Maupay were both interested in Flekken's searching ball, but the former opted to intelligently block off Nathan Ake, thus creating space for Maupay to run into, take the ball in his stride and coolly pick out the bottom corner.
Despite being bewildered by the manner of Maupay's opener, City immediately kicked back into gear and should have been level in the 24th minute, but an inspired Flekken came out on top in a one-on-one with Haaland.
Phil Foden completes his hat-trick with an ice cold finish 🥶 pic.twitter.com/xyCyOa6yqR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 5, 2024
Another three minutes passed before Flekken thwarted the champions once again - this time keeping out a Josko Gvardiol shot at full stretch - before recording a remarkable ninth save of the first half by tipping a De Bruyne curler round the post.
However, the Brentford number one was finally undone in the third minute of injury time, although through no fault of his own, as Ethan Pinnock mistakenly headed a De Bruyne cross straight into the air, and Foden capitalised, chesting the ball down before finishing low into the goal.
With momentum on their side and the home crowd deflated, City meant business as they came out for the second period, and just eight minutes after the restart, the champions' turnaround was complete.
Once again, it was a cross from the boot of De Bruyne that did the damage, as the Belgian's inswinging delivery from the left found an unmarked Foden, who produced a sharp flick of the head to find the bottom corner and notch his second of the night.
There was life in Brentford yet, and the chance to draw level arrived on the hour mark as a deflected Toney cutback fell kindly for Christian Norgaard inside the area, but Ruben Dias made a brilliant block to deny the Dane.
As plucky as the hosts were, their efforts would surely be in vain as Foden completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute, when Rodri fizzed a pass into the feet of Haaland, who delicately guided the ball into the Englishman's path and watched him race through before finishing with aplomb.
Rising back above Arsenal into second place in the table on goal difference, the Premier League title is officially in City's hands, as the champions are just two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand and return to the Etihad to face Everton in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff.
Meanwhile, Brentford - who failed to become the first team to beat a Guardiola side in three consecutive league games - remain just three points above the drop zone in 15th place, and their next assignment comes away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 10.
Ben Knapton
