This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
January 12, 2020
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero made history by becoming the Premier League's top-scoring foreign player with a hat-trick in a 6-1 thrashing of Aston Villa, moving City into second place in the table.
The Argentine's 12th Premier League hat-trick arrived eight minutes from time as he demonstrated his array of finishes by blasting his past the helpless Orjan Nyland.
City boss Pep Guardiola could afford the luxury of recalling Jesus and Aguero among six changes to the side that also outclassed Manchester United in midweek to put one foot in the final of the League Cup.
Former Spanish international Pepe Reina was in the stands ahead of his loan move from AC Milan being completed, but Nyland did little to further his case of keeping his place ahead of the ex-Liverpool stopper.
City's attacking options were in stark contrast to Villa's, who were forced to deputise midfielders Anwar El Ghazi and Jack Grealish as front men due to injuries to their strikers.
Former Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater was making his Villa debut after troubled spells at Chelsea and Burnley since leaving the Foxes.
Drinkwater was caught in possession inside his own box by Gabriel Jesus, allowing Riyad Mahrez to drill home his ninth goal of the season.
City's 6-1 win moved them 14 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
