Foden’s brilliant assists keep Manchester City’s title hopes alive in 2026

Phil Foden’s two assists led Manchester City to a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, keeping the Premier League title race alive with two points behind Arsenal heading into the final week.

City’s vital win over Palace Manchester City applied pressure on Arsenal with a commanding 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace, with Phil Foden’s outstanding first-half assists sparking a much-needed resurgence. The 25-year-old crafted the opening two goals before halftime, reducing Pep Guardiola’s side to within two points of the league leaders as the season neared its conclusion. City’s performance was erratic early on after Guardiola made six changes to the starting lineup, a decision influenced by their upcoming FA Cup final. Foden’s creativity and decisive play reenergized the team during a pivotal moment in the campaign. ## Foden reflects on his assist and team impact Foden explained his thought process behind the first goal, saying, "I checked a few times before receiving the ball and I saw Ant [Semenyo] make a good movement." He added that taking risks can pay off, stating, "Sometimes a risk is worth taking and I am very delighted it came off and we scored from it." The midfielder emphasized his focus on contributing to the win, noting, "Buzzing to contribute to a goal and help the lads get three points which is the most important." His display earned him comparisons to the "assist of the season" by analyst Jamie Redknapp, while former City defender Micah Richards praised his vision and execution. ## Foden’s journey back to form Foden has netted 10 goals in 48 appearances for City this term, but his most recent strike came on December 14th in the reverse fixture against Palace. The midfielder had gone 27 matches without scoring, prompting Guardiola to often leave him on the bench in recent months. His only three league starts in the last 13 games came before Wednesday’s match, with the last occurring on March 4th. Foden acknowledged his dip in form, saying, "I would say I had a good half season - the first half - and dropped off a bit then struggled to find my place in the team." ## Guardiola and teammates rally behind Foden Despite not scoring against Palace, Foden demonstrated his quality with an instinctive first-half pass that led to Semenyo’s goal, prompting an animated reaction from his manager. Foden registered two assists in a City match for the first time since December 2023 and achieved this feat in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game for the first time. He created five chances in the first half alone, the highest total by any player in the opening period of a league game this season. The homegrown star received a standing ovation when substituted in the 82nd minute and was named the man of the match at full-time. ## Foden’s contract and future prospects Though his form has been inconsistent this season, City showed their faith in Foden by agreeing a new contract with him at the Etihad Stadium. The midfielder, named PFA Player of the Year two years ago, spoke last season about personal struggles and injuries affecting his performances. Guardiola praised Foden’s contributions, saying, "These types of games, they play the low block, it is the talent for the wingers, like Phil in the first goal. These types of games, the quality makes the difference and Phil is full of it in his body." He added, "It has to be a big role in the future. We want the best for Phil and Phil has to deliver what he has done for many, many years." ## England’s World Cup squad dilemma Foden was the only player to start England’s final two friendlies against Uruguay and Japan as Thomas Tuchel finalized his 24-man World Cup squad for this summer. Tuchel previously suggested Foden does not have a guaranteed spot, leaving his participation uncertain. Micah Richards weighed in, stating Foden’s World Cup hopes are unpredictable but argued he would select him if in Tuchel’s position. Richards noted, "There are certain games when you will play against teams who play a low block. He [Foden] is the one that can unlock the goal." He added, "I know he’s not had the best of seasons, but in a World Cup when you need something special, he can produce that." ## Arsenal’s path to Premier League glory Arsenal can secure their first Premier League title in decades by winning their remaining two matches against Burnley and Crystal Palace. Mikel Arteta’s side will also claim the trophy if they triumph at Turf Moor on Monday and City fail to beat Bournemouth the following day. If City defeat Bournemouth on the south coast, the title will hinge on the final day’s clash with Aston Villa on May 24th. City hold a one-goal advantage on goal difference, leaving a slim possibility the title could be decided by goal difference or goals scored if Arsenal drop points in either of their final two games. ## Guardiola’s cautious title outlook Guardiola remained focused on City’s own path to the title, stating, "Depends on them [Arsenal]. If they win two games, nothing to do, nothing to talk. All we can be is in there just in case." He emphasized the importance of his team’s performance regardless of Arsenal’s results, adding that City must stay prepared until the final whistle. The manager’s comments underscored the tension surrounding the league’s conclusion as both teams prepare for their decisive fixtures.