Pep Guardiola hails Phil Foden’s ‘huge talent’ but brings Manchester City star back down to earth

Phil Foden lit up Anfield with a spectacular performance that left an overjoyed Pep Guardiola adamant there are no limits to how much he can improve.

The Manchester City midfielder was the shining light in his side’s 4-1 skewering of Liverpool, a result that makes them long odds-on to become champions for the third time in four years. He set up a goal for Ilkay Gundogan and scored a superb one of his own.

Foden, who was watched by England manager Gareth Southgate, was switched from a central role to the right flank in the second half and that was when he did his damage, coming to life with speed and skill that was too much for Liverpool to handle. Guardiola was overjoyed with what he saw.

Pep Guardiola has praised Phil Foden for his performance against Liverpool on Sunday

‘In the first half we struggled a lot to find him, he was not in the position he should be,’ said Guardiola. ‘When playing in the middle he sometimes has some difficulty understanding where he needs to be and where he needs to move, right now he is moving perfectly on the sides as a winger.

‘Of course the second and fourth goal were outstanding, phenomenal and look at the quality there. We cannot forget he is only 20 years old and has an incredible margin to improve. I know he is a guy who is so calm and if he stays in the position he has to stay and he will improve.

‘I still feel he has a margin to understand the game a little bit better. We are lucky. For Manchester City fans and the people from the academy to have someone who grew up in our academy and grew up supporting us, was a ball boy for us and has now become a top, top footballer for us is a joy.’

However, he believes Foden still has areas of his game that he must ‘improve’ to excel at City

Guardiola and his staff celebrated exuberantly as City scored their goals, which showed how much importance they had placed on this fixture, but the manager was determined to play down the significance of his club’s first win at Anfield since May 2003.

‘What is important is the three points, of course I’m proud of the guys,’ said Guardiola. ‘They are the guys who broke the record which shows how difficult it is. Hopefully next time it will be a similar performance with the spectators at Anfield.’

City have now won 14 consecutive games in all competitions – equalling an English football record that was set by Preston (1892) and Arsenal (1987) – but Liverpool’s form is plummeting and their current state was reflected by two huge uncharacteristic errors from goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Foden provided Manchester City with a goal and an assist to see them win the game 4-1 

Guardiola also highlighted the importance of their tactics for winning the game on Sunday

He was disconsolate after his mistakes with poor passes led to City’s second and third goals but Jurgen Klopp refused to hold him solely culpable.

‘I said to him that we have stands, you can shoot the ball there,’ said Klopp. ‘It is not a mistake, it’s different things coming together. We didn’t offer him the right things. In the first half Ali played exceptional football, really calm and passing through small spaces exactly like we wanted him to do.

‘In the second half he didn’t do that. He knows that. I can’t help him through the night now, we all had nights like this, but tomorrow he will be ok again and we will go again.’