Football

Danny Murphy hails Phil Foden’s development and impact after his twin strikes in Manchester Derby

Manchester City staged a remarkable comeback to secure a thrilling 3-1 victory over Manchester United in a pulsating Premier League derby on Sunday. United stunned the Etihad crowd when Marcus Rashford unleashed a thunderous long-range strike in the early stages. City, despite dominating possession, struggled to break down a resolute United defence and went into halftime trailing.

However, Pep Guardiola‘s men emerged from the tunnel with renewed purpose in the second half. Phil Foden, who had been lively throughout, equalized with a well-placed shot. Foden then put City ahead with a composed finish, sending the home fans into a frenzy. Erling Haaland kept relatively quiet throughout and added the final nail in the coffin with a late goal, ensuring City secured all three points. This win marks a significant milestone for City, keeping them in the title race just behind Liverpool.

“He seems to be someone who Pep trusts”- Danny Murphy

Former Liverpool player, Danny Murphy, in his BBC Sport column, was full of praise for Phil Foden’s performance in Manchester City’s derby win. He highlighted Foden’s continuous improvement, stating that he’s “not a player who has stood still.” Murphy credits Foden’s integration into the City team for his development, making him Pep Guardiola’s “go-to man” at just 23 years old. This season, Foden has already started more Premier League games than in any previous campaign, showcasing Guardiola’s trust in him as a consistent goal threat.

“His progression is there for all to see – this is not a player who has stood still. He has got better and better, the more he has been integrated in the City team, and that has seen him become Guardiola’s go-to man at the age of 23. Foden has already started more Premier League games this season than any other campaign and he seems to be someone who Pep trusts because he knows he is going to be a source of goals, wherever he plays,” the 46-year-old Murphy wrote.

Murphy emphasized that Sunday’s performance was not an anomaly. He hailed Foden as Manchester City‘s standout player.  This sentiment is worrying news only for fans of Liverpool and Arsenal, given Foden’s potential impact on the title race. However, for everyone else, Murphy encourages admiration and excitement for the young player’s future potential. “So, Sunday’s display was far from a one-off. Foden is shining in a wonderfully gifted City side and, at the moment, he is looking like their best player. The only people disappointed to see him playing the way he is are Liverpool and Arsenal fans, because of the part he could play in deciding the title race. Everyone else can admire and be excited about what they see,” Murphy added.