Pep Guardiola faces Phil Foden dilemma for Liverpool vs Man City title showdown

Part of the Phil Foden success story is that he is making himself invaluable in too many different positions. His brilliant cameo on the right against Atletico Madrid, which swung the Champions League quarter-final in Manchester City’s favour, gave Pep Guardiola another option.

But Foden was man of the match playing on the left side of attack when the Blues drew 2-2 at Anfield in October, and has been the best of the various players tried in the false nine role this season. In the away game with Liverpool, he was pitted against stand-in right-back James Milner and destroyed the former Blue.

But with Trent Alexander-Arnold fit again, Guardiola could pick Jack Grealish or Raheem Sterling on the left and Foden central, or even mix it up on the day. Whatever set-up he chooses, Foden is City’s key man in attack.

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Guardiola was still seething with Kyle Walker after his daft red card in a meaningless group game in RB Leipzig meant he missed the midweek first leg with Atletico Madrid. But he is almost sure to be welcomed back into the starting XI for this game, with Joao Cancelo switching to left-back, and his pace will be needed against a swift Liverpool front line.

Joao Cancelo has been a revelation as an attacking, inverted full-back in the last 18 months, but questions remain over his defending. That was never more the case than at Anfield when he was at fault for both Liverpool goals, exposed by Mo Salah’s brilliance.

To be fair, specialist defenders have found Salah more than a handful, so it is no disgrace, but Cancelo needs to get to grips with the Egyptian ace, even if Salah has been out of form lately.

City fans have become used to the same script at the Etihad: their