There were great signs shown by a Manchester City favourite against Crystal Palace

There were great signs shown by a Manchester City favourite against Crystal Palace

Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 last night at Selhurst Park with a good performance that was filled with plenty of positives. One of those was the performance of Phil Foden. Foden endured a frustrating opening half-hour in last night’s match. However, he overcame that to put in a performance that helped his team make it back-to-back wins to start their 2026-27 Premier League campaign.

Phil Foden overcame a frustrating opening half-hour as he helped Manchester City sweep Crystal Palace aside at Selhurst Park.

Manchester City took the lead last night in the 17th minute courtesy of a sublime header from Erling Haaland which came from an Antoine Semenyo cross. Following that goal, Phil Foden had two chances to double Manchester City’s lead. He squandered the first in the 21st minute after being set free by Elliot Anderson after City played through the Crystal Palace defence. Foden inexplicably fired over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. Six minutes later, Foden failed to get sufficient contact on a header from close range after being set up by Rayan Cherki.

For a player who is striving to get back to his best, it was going to be a question of how Foden responded to those chances going by the wayside. Come the final whistle, the answer was emphatic as Phil Foden put in a performance that showed he was getting back to his best.

At times last night, Crystal Palace couldn’t live with Manchester City’s attacking interplay and fluidity. Phil Foden was at the heart of that. Foden combined superbly well with Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki from the right wing. You could see the confidence growing in Phil Foden as last night’s match progressed. He was gliding around the pitch and his touch and passing was on point. He also grabbed an assist when he played the ball to Rayan Cherki to do the rest to score his first goal of the evening. However, the best came late on from Foden.

The run and pass that Phil Foden made to set up Erling Haaland’s second goal against Crystal Palace was his crowning moment of the night.

Erling Haaland would seal Manchester City’s win over Crystal Palace when he scored the fourth goal in City’s 4-1 win in the 84th minute. Haaland’s powerful near post finish came via an assist from Phil Foden. It was that moment that was the crowning moment of Foden’s night. It was also one that showed that Phil Foden is getting back to his best.

Foden received the ball in midfield and drove at the Crystal Palace defence. He drew three Palace defenders before taking a touch inside to steady himself. This unsettled a fourth Palace defender before Foden slipped the ball to Erling Haaland. Haaland finished the chance with aplomb and the match was over. Yes, the game was stretched and likely already over when Foden set Haaland up to complete his brace. But the way Foden glided over the pitch and his ball to Haaland was reminiscent of Foden in full flight. That was a great moment and capped off Foden’s night.

Phil Foden overcame a frustrating opening half-hour against Crystal Palace to put in a very good display. How Foden responded to that frustration and his subsequent performance was another positive for Manchester City last night. Hopefully, Foden’s display over the last hour at Selhurst Park is a sign of what’s to come from him this season.