Khadija Shaw celebrates scoringGetty Images
At a glance
Khadija Shaw scores four goals and reaches century for City.
Aoba Fujino hits City's third after Shaw's first-half double.
Lucy Parker pulls one back, but Vivianne Miedema adds City's fourth three minutes later.
Alex Greenwood makes first appearance since October.
Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Joie Stadium
Khadija Shaw scored four goals as Manchester City beat Aston Villa to ensure they will take a six-point lead in the Women's Super League into 2026.
Shaw's opening goal was her 100th in all competitions for City - the first time a female player has reached that landmark for the club in the professional era.
The Jamaican - easily the best player on the pitch - doubled her tally for the day before half-time, completed her hat-trick late in the second half, and still found time to add a fourth in stoppage time.
Villa started well at Joie Stadium but could not keep pace after Shaw gave title-chasing City a 2-0 lead, and Aoba Fujino added a third in the second half.
Manager Andree Jeglertz, who has overseen an impressive start since joining City in the summer, was able to bring on England defender Alex Greenwood for her first appearance since October after recovering from a knee injury.
The City captain was given a warm reception, as was full-back Kerstin Casparij on her 100th appearance for the club.
Villa could do little to combat City's quality but scored a consolation at 3-0 down in the second half, when Lucy Parker headed in following a corner.
Their celebrations were shortlived, though, as Fujino teed up Vivianne Miedema for City's fourth three minutes later.
City end the year six points clear of defending champions Chelsea in the WSL, while Villa are eighth with three wins from their 11 matches.
Man City analysis: Exquisite Shaw the difference
Shaw has already secured legendary status at City, and is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football despite often missing out on individual accolades.
Her goalscoring rate is astonishing - she now has 103 goals in 120 appearances for City in all competitions, with 74 in the WSL.
And against Villa she brought the level of quality City needed to break the deadlock against well-organised opponents.
Shaw dominated Villa's defence in the penalty area, getting in front of her marker to meet Miedema's perfectly executed pass for the first, then turning sharply to make space for her second - fooling Anna Patten in the process.
She had earlier put goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo under pressure, forcing her into an error before having a shot tipped over as the offside flag went up.
Shaw then saw an audacious curling effort smack off the post in the second half before completing her hat-trick in the 84th minute after substitute Kerolin laid on a simple finish for her.
And just as Villa may have thought it could not get any worse as the clock ticked down, Shaw thumped in her fourth in stoppage time.
City have fallen short in the title race in recent seasons - often coinciding with injury issues for Shaw.
They will hope she stays fit and gets them over the line this time as her ruthlessness in front of goal has given Jeglertz a flying start to his tenure.
What's next for both teams?
City travel to West Ham on Sunday, 21 December (13:00 GMT) for a Women's League Cup quarter-final tie. Villa have no more matches in 2025.
Both teams return to WSL action after the winter break on Sunday, 11 January, with City hosting Everton and Villa at home to Brighton (both 12:00 GMT kick-offs).
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Manchester City
Aston Villa
Starting XI
31A. Yamashita
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15Leila Ouahabi
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27R. Knaak
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4J. Rose
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18K. Casparij
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19L. Blindkilde Brown
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25Y. Hasegawa
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11L. Hemp
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10V. Miedema
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20A. Fujino
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9K. Shaw
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24I. Beney
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6G. Clinton
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5A. Greenwood
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14Kerolin
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22S. Lohmann
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1S. D'Angelo
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15L. Parker
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38R. Maltby
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21L. Kendall
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25M. Taylor
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23C. Grant
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13M. Hijikata
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20K. Hanson
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9R. Daly
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24O. Deslandes
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7M. Kearns
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18G. Mullett
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5L. Staniforth
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3Paula Tomás
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