Dream Team stats back up Pep Guardiola’s claim that Phil Foden is Premier League’s “best player”

MANCHESTER CITY reasserted their dominance over their neighbours thanks to another inspired display from Phil Foden (£5.7m) on Sunday.

Manchester United took an unexpected lead at the Etihad through Marcus Rashford’s (£3.5m) long-range piledriver but the defending champions dominated the game and eventually ran out 3-1 winners.

It was the hosts homegrown talent who emerged as the hero with a brilliant brace that prompted Pep Guardiola to hail Foden as “the best player in the Premier League right now” in his post-match interview.

Dream TeamA world-class talent[/caption]

The decorated tactician’s claim triggered a widespread debate among football fans on social media but it’s an opinion substantiated by the Dream Team rankings.

Foden banked 20 points when all was said and done on derby day to take his overall tally for the season to 287, two more than his nearest rival, team-mate Erling Haaland (£7.7m).

The Norwegian poacher missed an open goal when his team were 1-0 down but he later scored his obligatory goal to the seal the win in stoppage time.

However, the striker’s eight-point haul wasn’t enough to preserve his number one ranking in Dream Team, such was the impressive nature of Foden’s outing.

Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) previously held top spot and Arsenal’s No7 will have the chance to usurp his international team-mate this evening when he faces Sheffield United – he’ll need 17 points to jump above Foden.

Foden dethroned Haaland in Dream TeamGETTY

Despite the scintillating form of Ollie Watkins (£4.6m), the top three have started to pull away from the chasing pack of late.

DREAM TEAM’S TOP PERFORMERS 2023/24

Phil Foden (£5.7m) – 287 points

Erling Haaland (£7.7m) – 285 points

Bukayo Saka (£5.9m) – 271 points

Ollie Watkins (£4.6m) – 234 points

Jarrod Bowen (£4.7m) – 231 points

Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) – 222 points

Joao Pedro (£4.3m) – 216 points

Julian Alvarez (£4.2m) – 216 points

Cole Palmer (£4.3m) – 213 points

Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) – 211 points

Foden’s attacking output has been nothing short of extraordinary this season.

After Sunday’s brace, he’s now scored 17 goals in all competitions – the joint-most among midfield assets.

The 23-year-old has also registered 47 shots on target, comfortably the most among players in his position.

287 points and countingPA

He ranks highly in the playmaking department too having created 14 big chances (third among midfielders) and provided 11 assists (joint-seventh).

As if that wasn’t enough, only Bruno Guimaraes (£4.4m) has produced more bonus points than Foden at this stage of the campaign.

Best in the Premier League, best in Dream Team… Foden has the world at his feet right now.