City’s fantastic Mr Foden brings winning attitude

Youngster’s maturity and work ethic is delighting his manager as midfielder makes case for regular place

THERE were three moments in City’s win over Liverpool which proved that Phil Foden is now a mainstay of the team.

It was nothing to do with his cleverly worked and devastatingly finished goal, or the delightful footwork and pass to tee another up for Raheem Sterling.

And it was not about his smart, succinct work in freeing Riyad Mahrez for a fifth goal, which was ridiculously ruled out for a handball.

Two of the three moments would not make any highlights reel, but at least one of them had Pep Guardiola leaping into the technical area to applaud.

Guardiola is a manager who, more than most, appreciates the beauty of football – it shows in the way his teams play.

He takes it for granted that great, technically gifted players will do things of great beauty. And the fact that Foden has now racked up 19 goal involvements – nine goals and ten assists – will not come as a surprise to the manager.

But while he, no doubt, expressed his appreciation for Foden’s eyecatching stuff, it was the little things which have helped convince Guardiola that the 20-year-old is ready.

The first came in the first half, when City were 2-0 up and Liverpool were striving to re-establish the stranglehold they had for the opening 20 minutes, and pull back a goal before half time.

Eric Garcia’s defensive header to Rodri snuffed the initial threat, and the Spain midfielder then fed Foden, who strode forward, seeking the counter-attack.

But he was surrounded by three red shirts, and the most likely outcome was a loss of possession.

Foden showed his maturity, anticipating Andy Robertson’s challenge and slightly leaning towards the Liverpool left-back to ensure a free kick which ended the pressure.

From that free-kick, City did not lose possession and Foden brilliantly engineered and then finished the decisive third goal.

Another telling contribution came in the second half as City streamed forwards on the counter.

Kevin De Bruyne was on the ball, and the sight of Foden’s lithe figure sprinting from right to left drew in the retreating Liverpool defenders.

That left De Bruyne with a simple pass to the unmarked

Raheem Sterling, whose shot was deflected in by

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to make it 4-0.

That decoy run was standard stuff from players at City’s level, but a year ago Foden was not making those kind of runs.

It was not that he was incapable – he has been outstanding throughout his 11 years at the club, at all youth levels – but he sometimes looked a little lost among great players, and was happy to let them do the brilliant stuff. No longer. You hesitate to say it, but the selfless run was De Bruyne-esque. Indeed, the Belgian had made a similar decoy run to open up the space for Sterling’s first goal, neatly supplied by Foden.

But the moment that had Guardiola demonstrably striding into the technical area and clapping his hands enthusiastically above his head was a nothing moment. With minutes left, and the game won at 4-0, Liverpool were seeking a goal to restore some pride. But they were denied as Foden chased back and got ahead of Trent AlexanderArnold and held off the England right back to swivel and play the ball off his shin to win the throw-in. It was all about attitude and work ethic – and Guardiola loved it.

There were defining moments in the Liverpool game that prove Foden is ready

Stuart Brennan