Foden fires City to vital win

Watching Manchester City’s Champions League slugfest against Tottenham, Phil Foden sensed his side’s energy-sapping exit could present an opportunity.

As a youngster in football’s costliest-assembled squad, the 18-year-old Foden has to be patient to get game time under Pep Guardiola.

‘‘He said he will give me opportunities when the lads are a bit tired,’’ Foden said. ‘‘So I’m just waiting for that.’’

When it came against Tottenham yesterday, Foden scored his first Premier League goal on only his second start.

It took Foden five minutes to head into the net, sealing a 1-0 victory that returned City to the top of the league, a point ahead of Liverpool with four games left.

‘‘Phil is incredibly talented but we have to handle him in the right moment,’’ Guardiola said. ‘‘He’s a guy who has the quality to arrive in the box. I trust a lot in him.’’

Ayoze Perez’s hat-trick all but guaranteed Newcastle will remain in the Premier League next season after securing a 3-1 victory over Southampton.

Gerard Deulofeu scored twice to give Watford a 2-1 win at already relegated Huddersfield. Watford’s sixth win on the road this season kept the seventh-place team on course for their highest Premier League finish.

Brighton frustrated Wolves in a 0-0 draw to gain a key point in their scrap with Cardiff to avoid relegation.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a penalty eight minutes into the second half after being brought down by Jack Simpson to give already relegated Fulham a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth. Leicester twice came from behind to hold West Ham to a 2-2 draw.