Manchester City will head into the new year with an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League after Phil Foden’s first-half goal earned them a 1-0 win at Brentford on Wednesday. Foden stroked home in the 16th minute from Kevin de Bruyne’s pass and it proved sufficient to seal a 10th successive league win for Pep Guardiola’s relentless champions.

With Liverpool losing at Leicester City on Tuesday and Chelsea held by Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday, City have seized complete control of the title race.

City now have 50 points from 20 games, with Chelsea on 42 from 20 and Liverpool on 41 having played one game less than the top two. Chelsea suffered another stumble in their faltering title challenge when they were held to a 1-1 draw after an injury-time equaliser by substitute Danny Welbeck.

The European champions, hit recently by a string of injuries and Covid-19 cases, had gone ahead when Romelu Lukaku rose the highest to meet a corner from Mason Mount in the 28th minute, taking advantage of a makeshift Brighton defence that was missing centre-half stalwarts Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy.

Foden was left out of City’s starting line-up in their two previous league games after incurring the wrath of Guardiola for having a night on the town with teammate Jack Grealish.

Restored to the starting eleven at Brentford, the 21-year-old made amends with a finish of real quality.

Frustrated Tuchel

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, vented frustration at a snowballing injury crisis, and some refereeing decisions.

Tuchel was left hopping on the touch-line as his players put in an error-strewn performance that he blamed on a string of injuries and Covid-19 cases.