And his fourth goal since the restart – and City’s third on the night – was a vision of next season’s future.
The master, De Bruyne, and the precocious pupil.
Foden fed it into the Belgian whose return pass could not have been better served had he draped a white, silk napkin over his forearm.
Foden, all left foot they say, lifted the crispest of right-footed efforts over Ederson.
Guardiola had been down on his haunches for a couple of minutes after a falling-out with fourth official Mike Dean. Foden got him airborne. No wonder.
When Pep claimed Foden was the most talented player he had managed – before using him as a cup player – we laughed.
Now, everyone knows where Guardiola (right, with his players) was coming from. If there was proof needed that the young Englishman was good enough to fill the gap left by the departing Spanish magician, David Silva, this was surely it
There have been suggestions that Foden might lack a physical presence but try telling that to a succession of opponents who simply cannot get near him.
In a pleasant second half, Foden again shone and imagine what damage a combination with De Bruyne and Sterling can do.
From De Bruyne’s predictably well-chosen pass, Sterling, back in prime form, looked to have added his second but it went down as an Alex Oxladechamberlain own goal, which pretty much typified Liverpool’s casual night out.
And in the final minute of injury time, substitute Riyad Mahrez thought he added a fifth, only for the goal to be ruled out for an inadvertent handball. It mattered not a jot.
For Liverpool, this was a night to forget and a season to remember.
For City, another look at the future.
Phil Foden pounces just before half-time to put City well and truly out of reach
HONOURED City salute champions Liverpool
FIREWORKS went off outside the Etihad and there’s a good chance they were let off by a mischievous Liverpool fan.
But the Reds’ title party had barely fizzled out before they were brought back down to earth with a bang last night.
The Merseysiders got a guard of honour from Manchester City to mark them taking the title from Pep Guardiola’s side.
But their first game as champions will only serve to be a reminder how hard it is going to be for Jurgen Klopp and Co to keep hold of the trophy they haven’t even got their hands on yet.
Klopp reminisced before this game about his back-to-back Bundesliga triumphs with Borussia Dortmund – but he also warned about how that fired up Bayern Munich.
City will surely have a bonfire lit under them now, too.
Guardiola might have looked, at times, like he was losing interest in the City project this term as they fell further and further behind.
However, he will surely be inspired to take down the side who are now their fiercest rivals on the pitch.
After an impressive opening 10 minutes, the whole Liverpool side started to look like their title party went on all week.
Many of Klopp’s side are teetotal, but this was some hangover, considering they had only lost once before this in the league.
The fireworks didn’t deliver the spectacular show hoped for by the cheeky Liverpool supporter.
And Klopp didn’t get a champion performance from his side, which has been explosive all season.
But the German was aware of a backlash coming from the recently dethroned kings of England.
And this will at least remind everyone else that City will not be going away – and Liverpool will have to keep improving to stay on top.