Foden has ‘gone up another level’

Phil Foden has gone up another level this season, according to his Manchester City team-mate Kevin De Bruyne.

Foden scored a first-half double, taking his tally to 16 goals this term, as City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to a single point with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Brighton.

Kevin De Bruyne started the scoring with an unlikely yet eye-catching diving header, setting Pep Guardiola’s side on course of a resounding victory and moving them into second.

Foden’s was once again at the centre of a stylish City win, his quick-fire brace moving him past 50 top-flight goals.

The midfielder now has 24 goals in all competitions this season for the club and while Guardiola has exclaimed how physically fatigued his players are, that wasn’t apparent by watching Foden and co tonight.

“I think he will end up centrally. I saw Phil from the beginning and I think it takes a while to get used to a Pep team,” De Bruyne told Sky Sports.

“I think now he is trusted to play centrally and Phil does what he does for six or seven years already. He has been doing this for years, has helped us win titles and he has gone up another level.”

The calls for the Player of the Year are beginning to ring for Foden too, and Guardiola agreed his name should certainly be in the hat.

“Yeah, for sure, but what he wants is to win the Premier League. At his age he’s won a lot of titles,” the manager said.

“Of course, his influence in the final third, in the goals and everything today was a little better than the last two or three games. Today he was more calm, the decision-making was really good.”

De Bruyne also added his name to the scoresheet with an impressive diving header, his first ever headed goal in the Premier League.

“It doesn’t happen too much. Kyle [Walker] gave a good cross and I think the only way I could reach it is by jumping to it. I will take it but it’s not something I am good at,” De Bruyne said.

Guardiola also chuckled post-match while talking about De Bruyne’s header, saying: “He’s more than welcome if he wants to try it again! It’s good for him, it opened the game.”

City have five league games remaining and are in a favourable position, a point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. However, Guardiola has warned his players against complacency as they search for a fourth straight title.

He said: “What happened to Liverpool, two defeats in a row, it can happen to Arsenal, it can happen to us. What is important is that still we are there. There is a lot of games to play.”

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.