Phil Foden created Premier League history when he scored for Manchester City against Brentford on Monday evening.
City travelled to the Gtech Community Stadium knowing they had a great chance to make the most of Liverpool's slip-up against Arsenal.
Jurgen Klopp's side lost 3-1 to the Gunners on Sunday evening, and City took full advantage by beating Brentford by the same scoreline to move within two points of the Premier League leaders.
City fell behind in calamitous circumstances in the first half when Neal Maupay ran onto a long goal-kick before slotting past Ederson.
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City took 16 shots in the first half before Phil Foden finally found a way past Mark Flekken, and in the second half the 23-year-old scored twice more to complete his hat-trick.
As well as singlehandedly carrying City, Foden earned himself a place in the history books when he glided into the penalty area to score his third goal of the night.
That composed strike - which came after Foden played a clever one-two with Erling Haaland - was the 45th scored in the current Premier League gameweek, more than ever before.
The previous record for the number of goals scored across one 10-game Premier League weekend was 44, set in September 2020. That tally was equalled at the start of May last season.
Foden was superb on the night both in his finishing and all-round play. The England international played in a central attacking midfield role which allowed him to ghost into dangerous areas in the centre of the penalty area.
The City academy graduate did exactly that shortly after half-time when he evaded the Brentford defenders and glanced a deft header into the corner of Flekken's goal.
City are now level on points with Arsenal and two behind Liverpool having played one game less than both.
The reigning champions have rarely been at their best this season, but they are now in the perfect position to defend their title once again.
Topics: Phil Foden, Manchester City, Premier League, Brentford
Alex Brotherton