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Player Ratings: Phil Foden the matchwinner for Manchester City

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's English midfielder Phil Foden (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 13, 2021. (Photo by Clive Brunskill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CLIVE BRUNSKILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's English midfielder Phil Foden (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 13, 2021. (Photo by Clive Brunskill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CLIVE BRUNSKILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Manchester City grabbed a host of chances, but in the end, only Phil Foden was able to break down the Brighton defense and get City all three points.

Manchester City turned in a great performance, but were only rewarded with one goal in a thoroughly deserved win over Brighton at the Etihad. With the win, City are now just four points off the Premier League summit with a game in hand, and leaders Manchester United and Liverpool are set to face off at the weekend, giving the Blues a chance to potentially go top once they are level on games with the rest of the league.

Defense

Ederson (GK): Was nearly caught too far out of his goal in the second half had Neal Maupay gone for the chip, which is by far the biggest flaw in his game. Overall, however, he was present when City needed him and grabbed the clean sheet. (6)

João Cancelo (RB): Got forward well, nearly scoring in the second half, but once again looked solid as a fixture in this City defense. (7)

John Stones (CB): Sturdy, stable, calm, and composed defending. Stones is a completely different player than the one we saw have a shocker last season at Norwich, and the primary reason is simple: playing next to a commanding voice who can anchor the backline allows Stones to truly play his game, and Rúben Dias is his ideal partner. (8)

Rúben Dias (CB): City’s big-money defensive signing has lived up to the hype in every way. He is this team’s most important player, without question, and has transformed this defense in a way few, myself included, saw coming. (8)

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB): Linked up well going forward, but was caught in behind on occasion. At the moment, he’s by far a better option than Benjamin Mendy, whose level of performance simply does not justify his off-the-pitch shenanigans. Nevertheless, Kyle Walker and Cancelo should be the clear starters for this team in the big matches. (6.5)

Midfield

Rodri (CDM): With great central defending behind him, Rodri has truly shown what he can do this season when he’s not asked to do everything. While he was good last year, he has proven his worth and is an unsung hero in City’s defensive stability. (7.5)

İlkay Gündoğan (CDM): Another good tempo-setting performance in midfield. This year, he’s made a noticeable effort to drive forward with the ball, pass forward rather than sideways, and arrive late in the box for crosses and it has truly shown. Whether that is down to Pep Guardiola or the player, the results have been immense. He’s no longer hiding, and if he can keep it up, he deserves a spot on the team sheet in the big games. (7.5)

Bernardo Silva (CAM): Regular involvement, a spectacular nutmeg in the box, and nearly another goal. He was just denied, but in the end, it was another great performance from a revitalized Silva. (7.5)

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Attack

Riyad Mahrez (RW): Missed a huge opportunity in on goal cutting in on his preferred left foot after a brilliantly timed run, and was largely anonymous other than that. (5.5)

Kevin De Bruyne (CF): An assist for Phil Foden’s goal, and should’ve had either a goal or second assist at the end of the game in an odd twist. He won a penalty, and as the team’s typical taker, he should have stepped up to the spot, but then Raheem Sterling took the ball and blasted it well over the bar, denying the Belgian a second goal involvement in two different ways. (8)

Phil Foden (LW): A Man of the Match performance for City’s young star that poses many questions. His goal decided the game, he was easily the team’s most involved player, showed world-class drive, energy, and dribbling skill, and also should have won a penalty. In this form, he should be easily the first name on the team sheet just about every week, but if Sterling is fully fit, he has been consistently chosen over Foden all season. That wasn’t the case for the first time today, and it gave City a crucial win. (8.5)

Next. Manchester City 1-0 Brighton: Make it Seven. dark

Substitutes

Gabriel Jesus (LW): Oddly was not deployed through the middle and gave the ball away regularly during his cameo. (5.5)

Raheem Sterling (RW): Came on and blasted a penalty into the stands that should have been De Bruyne’s to take. (5)