Phil Foden makes claim about Liverpool straight after scoring hat-trick for Man City last night

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Manchester City moved to within two points of Liverpool in the table last night after a 3-1 win over Brentford.

Things had looked promising from a Reds point of view after Neal Maupay put the Bees ahead early on. But City predictably roared back, Phil Foden the hero as he registered all three goals.

It was a big win for Pep Guardiola’s men, who capitalised on Liverpool’s loss against Arsenal on Sunday. Win their game in hand, and City will now leapfrog the Reds into first place in the Premier League.

And speaking after the game to BBC Sport, Foden admitted that the Citizen’s are very aware of Liverpool – and Arsenal – ‘pushing’ them all the way.

“We have to take it game by game and not get too far ahead of ourselves,” said the 23-year-old. “Liverpool and Arsenal are pushing us.

“It’s important for him [Haaland] and Kev [De Bruyne] to be back. They’re probably our most important players.”

Foden turns up the heat on Liverpool

After defeat on Sunday, all Liverpool fans could do last night was hope that Brentford were able to take something from City.

Thomas Frank’s team did actually do the double over the champions last season. So there was a faint expectation that they might pull off something similar again.

But it’s very rare that a team manage to get the better of Guardiola and co three times on the bounce. Even after the early Maupay goal, a Man City win felt inevitable.

For Liverpool, they don’t need to necessarily to panic too much. Even if City win their game in hand, there’ll only be a points difference between the teams.

The fact that the remaining game between the two sides is at Anfield works in the Reds’ favour, too. In theory, things are still in Liverpool’s hands.

With just four league games between now and that mega clash on Merseyside, Liverpool also have an opportunity to reel City in a little.

If they can keep pace with them until March 10th, they should have the chance to go ahead of them that day. That could be huge.

Of course, Foden and his teammates know that, they’ve been here many times before. It feels like they’re on a roll now, but Liverpool are still bang in this.