Phil Foden offers glimpse of how Man City might approach next title defence

A collective gasp went around the main stand as Phil Foden plucked a Kalvin Phillips cross-field pass out of the sky, let it bounce, and guided a lovely lob towards the top corner.

For a second, it looked as though the ball would drop under the bar and into the side netting, but there was just too much on it and the chance went inches wide. It wouldn't take away from a fine return to the team for a player who has done little wrong to find himself out of it.

Starting in central midfield for only the third time this season, Foden was part of a much-changed Manchester City starting XI that reflected the fact that the Premier League title had been won the night before.

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The teamsheet said more about who was on the star-studded bench rather than who was starting, and maybe one or two players were shoe-horned into the XI to give others a much-needed rest. A midfield trio of Phillips, Foden and Rico Lewis certainly suggested as much.

There were merits to each selection, too, however, with Lewis effectively playing as a number eight for large portions of the season and Phillips in desperate need of a start. Foden playing inside also accommodated Cole Palmer on the wing, who was another who could do with a positive performance.

Foden has started two games in midfield until this point, once against Sevilla in a Champions League dead-rubber, and another in the FA Cup demolition over Chelsea at the Etihad, where he got a goal and assist. It was Chelsea again who had to cope with Foden being the creative spark from midfield - and while it was another dead rubber of sorts, he played with a point to prove.

Having found himself out of the first-choice