The Manchester City manager needed no invitation to crown Phil Foden as the finest player in the Premier League following his double against Manchester United in Sunday’s derby, with City’s 3-1 victory increasing title pressure on Liverpool ahead of next weekend’s clash at Anfield.
But is Pep correct? Is Foden truly the division’s best player this season? Or does the solution to that question come from someone on his own team? Or from the Liverpool defence? Or the Aston Villa attack? Or where else?
We asked the Mirror Football crew who they thought had been the standout player of the season thus far, and the answers were varied.
Pep Guardiola is correct: Phil Foden has been the Premier League’s best player this season. His Manchester City teammate Erling Haaland may have scored more goals (27 to Foden’s 18), but the England star has been their most consistent performer, keeping the club on track to replicate last season’s historic Treble.
It’s not simply the quantity of goals Foden has scored this season, which is a career high, that distinguishes him as the Premier League’s player of the season, but the significance of those goals.
His double in Sunday’s Manchester derby ultimately helped City win, while his single goal a week before was enough to beat Bournemouth. A Foden hat-trick against Brentford last month saw City come His goal triggered another comeback at Everton, which resulted in a 3-1 victory two days after Christmas, keeping pressure on leaders Liverpool. Foden also has ten assists this season.
His derby-winning performance was reinforced by an unwavering work ethic off the ball, none more so than in the 89th minute, when, with City ahead 2-1, he ran back 50 yards to dispossess Antony, his hunger and drive garnering him praise from both the crowd and his manager.
Foden has become the complete player at the age of 23 with goals, assists, and a relentless work ethic. He is currently one of the finest players in Europe, not just in the Premier League.
