Foden disproves Liverpool fans' theory in style
Phil Foden has played against Liverpool just twice in the Premier League. City have won both, scoring eight goals, and Foden has contributed two goals and three assists in those 180 minutes. Foden's sensational goal on Sunday will make headlines, but what stood out more was the movement and technique in the build up to that strike and two assists, just as much as the clinical final actions themselves.
And not only did Foden announce his coming of age in arguably the biggest performance of his career infront of the watching England manager, he showed that comparisons to Liverpool's Curtis Jones should end immediately. Both fine players, but it was Foden who responded to a poor first half with a match-winning contribution in the second period. Jones was bright if unthreatening in the first half, then anonymous in in the second.
The next time Liverpool fans pipe up and discuss Foden after a good performance from Jones, remind them of this game.
A title-defining victory
In 2017/18, it was the 2-1 victory at Old Trafford which followed up a 5-0 home win over Liverpool that put City in control of the title race. The following season, it was the 2-1 win over Liverpool in January which made City believe, kept the leaders in touch and kick-started a run of one defeat in the final 17 games to leapfrog them in the final week.
Last season, Liverpool beat City at Anfield to establish a commanding lead, and it was their home win over Manchester United that saw the Kop dare to sing 'We're gonna win the league' at full time. Now, with City five clear of United, and ten of Liverpool, City are daring to speak about the title for the first time. They will continue to take things one game at a time, but this was a performance equal to previous title-defining blows against Liverpool. Now they must make their lead count.
City's two transfer priorities exposed
With Kyle Walker not fit enough to travel to Anfield, Pep Guardiola opted for a back four with Joao Cancelo right and Aleks Zinchenko left. Who knows if Walker would have played, or Cancelo would have been used on the left, but it was telling that it was Zinchenko picked over Aymeric Laporte or Benjamin Mendy against Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Zinchenko was good going forward but shaky at the back, and while he was solid on the whole, Guardiola will know he is not a long-term solution in the position. Likewise, Guardiola challenged Phil Foden with improvement tactically when playing centrally, as Gabriel Jesus was not picked to start. With makeshift options at left-back and upfront for City's biggest game of the season - despite more obvious options on the bench - it serves as a reminder that Guardiola needs to fix those positions as a priority in the summer.
History repeating itself
When City won a first half penalty against Anfield, it was Ilkay Gundogan's turn to step up for City from 12 yards. He's been better than most in a sky blue shirt when it comes to penalties, but like Kevin De Bruyne in the reverse fixture (and Riyad Mahrez at Anfield in 2018), he missed the target completely. It was the third missed penalty of the season for City, more than any other Premier League side.
Guardiola can address plenty of tactical problems all over the pitch but it seems that penalty problem still won't go away. He joked about turning to Ederson - but could the stopper do any worse?
Time to back up this result
Next up for City - after a tricky FA Cup tie at Swansea - are Spurs, Everton, Arsenal, West Ham and Manchester United. After taking control of the title race, and daring to speak about winning the league, City must back up their credentials against talented top half teams who can all expose City's weaknesses that still exist. If City can get through that run and keep a healthy gap between them and second, they truly will be in control of the title race.
