Guardiola Drops Bombshell Phil Foden Decision Ahead of Liverpool Showdown
Pep Guardiola notably benched Phil Foden for Manchester City's high-stakes encounter against Liverpool on Sunday, having pledged to "safeguard" his struggling creative midfielder.
The England star has experienced a peculiar campaign. Following a thoroughly disappointing 2024–25 season, both for the team and personally, Foden discovered excellent form for City as the year turned.
The 25-year-old netted six times in four Premier League matches as November transitioned into December—just one short of his entire previous season's total—sparking intense speculation about a potential England World Cup squad inclusion.
Nevertheless, Foden hasn't scored or provided an assist in any tournament since December 14. This individual slump quickly aligned with City's disappointing run of results, culminating in the low point of a 2–0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Foden was substituted at the interval in that match by Guardiola and hasn't earned a Premier League starting position since.
Still, Guardiola's confidence in his protégé remains unwavering.
Man City Starting XI vs. Liverpool
Man City Starting XI vs. Liverpool
(4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guéhi, Rayan Aït-Nouri; Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Nico O'Reilly; Antoine Semenyo, Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush.
Substitutes: James Trafford (GK), Rúben Dias, Tijjani Reijnders, Nathan Aké, Rayan Cherki, Nico González, Phil Foden, Max Alleyne, Rico Lewis
Guardiola: Foden Will Be Back
Guardiola: Foden Will Be Back
Foden hasn't been completely relegated to substitute duty during his Premier League hiatus. The nimble attacking midfielder featured in the disappointing Champions League loss to Bodø/Glimt and remained largely invisible during Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final triumph over Newcastle United.
Guardiola acknowledged a decline in Foden's displays but staunchly supported his player before Sunday's journey to Anfield. "Gradually he will return. He's my son. He's our son," the Spanish manager informed reporters.
"We attempt to shield him and restore him to peak form. We require his excellence to return to where we belong. He's human. In eight or nine-year careers, you sometimes experience highs and lows. It's that straightforward.
"I won't be the person who questions Phil's ability and his significance to us."
Foden Finds New Midfield Competition
Foden Finds New Midfield Competition
Foden has faced plenty of intense competition for spots throughout his nearly ten years in City's senior squad. Having outlasted players like David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan, the creative left-footer now confronts another gifted academy product.
When City overwhelmed Liverpool in a 3–0 victory last November, a crucial element of that display was Nico O'Reilly's success in neutralizing Mohamed Salah at left-back. After establishing himself in England's international setup in that role, the promising 20-year-old has earned his way into central midfield.
The imposing player started in a midfield three against Newcastle, Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur before securing his place in the starting lineup for the Liverpool visit alongside Rodri and Bernardo Silva. While O'Reilly may not possess all of Foden's technical ability—though he brings his own ball-playing strengths—his commanding physical presence and defensive awareness have been highly appreciated by Guardiola in this era of increased athleticism.