Phil Foden has shone in the absence of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, with the England international scoring a hat-trick as Manchester City beat Aston Villa 4-1 on Wednesday. The Championship side have responded strongly to doubts over their ability to win the biggest games and move within a point of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. City have not beaten a top-five side in the Premier League in six attempts this season before fourth-placed Villa travel to the Etihad Stadium.

But Guardiola showed confidence in his squad’s depth by keeping Haaland and De Bruyne on the bench for the full 90 minutes ahead of a tight three-game schedule.

“The schedule is bad and we have to bring energy. Everyone has to be involved,” Guardiola said when deciding to exclude Haaland and De Bruyne.

Guardiola has hailed Foden as the best player in England’s top flight this season and the 23-year-old has backed up his manager’s words, taking his tally to 21 goals for the season.

“Phil, when he plays as a centre-forward, he has a sense of purpose,” Guardiola added.

“He’s a real top player – he’s got talent, he’s got talent.”

When the two teams met in December last year, Manchester City lost 0-1 to Villa, but that was their last loss. Guardiola’s team is currently unbeaten in 24 games.

Unai Emery admits there is a gap between the two sides.

“We performed very well in different situations (at home against Manchester City). Today they showed their quality and deserved to win,” the Villa boss said.

Jeremy Doku was one of the players to return to Manchester City in four substitutions, with the Belgian rewarding his manager with one of his best performances in a City shirt in months.

Doku was the creator of the opener, skipping past Lucas Digne and his cross being cleared high by Rodri past Villa’s backup goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Villa’s regular number one Emiliano Martinez is just one of a series of key absences for the visitors.

Top scorer Ollie Watkins is out injured and captain John McGinn is suspended.

However, Jhon Duran proved to be Watkins’ right-hand man as the Colombian equalized after a one-two with Morgan Rogers.

City restored their lead before half-time thanks to Foden’s first goal of the night, calming growing tension among Etihad fans.

His free-kick snuck through a hole in Villa’s wall, with Nicolo Zaniolo jumping out of position and leaving Olsen unseen.

Manchester City’s second-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is enjoying a rare opportunity to play due to Ederson’s thigh injury.

The German needed to make a vital save after the break to prevent Villa equalizing for the second time through Douglas Luiz.

Foden secured the score when he received Rodri’s pass from the inside of the post.

He completed his hat trick by firing a shot into the top corner from outside the penalty area.

Liverpool look to regain top spot when they host Sheffield United, bottom of the table, on Thursday.

But City are confident of becoming the first team to win four consecutive English top-flight titles with the worst of their run now behind them.

Guardiola’s side have just one game left in their final eight games of the season against a top-six opponent, away to Tottenham Hotspur.

The defeat leaves Villa just two points above Spurs in the race for a top four, having played a game more.

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