Phil Foden is becoming the undroppable Man City midfielder Pep Guardiola expected

At half-time at Goodison Park the Premier League table made grim reading for Manchester City. They were starring down the barrel of a run of just one win in seven games and another few nights outside of the top four. They might not have quite been in the territory of needing a hero, but they did need someone to grab hold of the game, to make sure the good work of last week wasn't forgotten.

Being world champions is lovely - as a rowdy away end at Everton made clear on several occasions - but some of the sheen from a fifth trophy in 2023 would have been lost if the defence of their Premier League title had taken another blow. Remaining eight points behind Liverpool would have felt like getting a lump of coal at the bottom of the Christmas stocking.

So a victory at Everton felt vital in that regard, but after gifting the hosts a half-time lead, City needed to respond, they had to find something. Step forward Phil Foden.

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Foden was the local hero pulling the strings in the Club World Cup final just five nights ago. The chill of Christmas on Merseyside was a long way removed from the steamy heat of Jeddah, but if there was a common theme it was Foden's class from the centre of the pitch.

"Phil Foden, he's one of our own", belted out that brilliant away end just after he had smashed a stunning half-volley against the woodwork in the dying moments, by which time he had done more than anyone to turn the game on its head. Foden ended the night with seven shots, 70 touches, 47 successful passes from 50 attempts and three key passes. He was irrepressible in this comeback victory, which was savoured by Guardiola and his players in front