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Manchester City 'back to their best' says expert as Pep Guardiola hails Phil Foden for performance in UEFA Champions League win

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Pep Guardiola believes Phil Foden is showing his best form once again, while TNT Sports' Owen Hargreaves has lauded Manchester City's entire team for being "back to its best". The praise follows City's hammering of Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League. Foden bagged a brace in what was City's sixth win in seven matches, and leaves them with 10 points from four outings in the competition.

Highlights: Foden scores twice and Haaland nets again in win

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TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves believes Manchester City have laid down the gauntlet for a "fascinating" Premier League title race.

Pep Guardiola's side registered a sixth win in seven matches across all competitions by beating Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

It means they have accumulated 10 of the 12 available points so far in the competition, while they also sit in second place in the English top-flight - six points off leaders Arsenal.

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It is a marked improvement on 2024/25, when Guardiola's side finished third in the Premier League, while being dumped out of Europe at the knockout play-off stage.

Hargreaves reckons the 2022/23 treble winners have turned a corner, and are ready to challenge on all fronts.

"I think he [Guardiola] knows his team is getting back to its best," Hargreaves said on TNT Sports' coverage.

Pep 'happy that new players scored' in Man City win over Dortmund

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I think it helps having somebody like [Gianluigi] Donnarumma in goal and [Erling] Haaland at the top of the pitch. But it just feels like they've got all these brilliant little players.

"Even [Rayan] Cherki coming on, scored a fantastic goal. Him and Phil Foden are going to be good fun in supporting Haaland.

"I think he's got a great squad again. Last year, with all the injuries and Rodri... and then the confidence went down.

"I think they're slowly building; doing well in the Champions League. Second in the Premier League. Obviously got a big game on Sunday [against Liverpool]. If they win that, then it's game on for everything."

City had won four titles in a row before finishing behind Arne Slot's side in the league last season.

Their total of 71 points in the 2024/25 campaign was their lowest since accumulating 66 in 2015/16.

That led to Guardiola replacing Manuel Pellegrini, and he quickly built a trophy-winning machine, a team which has lifted 15 major honours since the Spaniard's arrival.

Hargreaves believes they are moving ominously up on the rails.

"As great as Arsenal are, they haven't done it," the former England midfielder continued. "They haven't won it yet. They're getting there, they're going to win it eventually.

Cherki scores 'brilliant goal' to round off Man City win

Video credit: TNT Sports

"But the last team that you want chasing you is these guys, who have been there and done it for such a long time. The players and the manager.

"I think they've put themselves in a great position, Arsenal, but this City team are going to chip away quietly.

"And if they can get Rodri back into the mix, with this team, with what they've have, then it's going to be a fascinating title race."

'He's already there' - Guardiola on Foden

Phil Foden was one of the stars of the show for City during their win over Dortmund.

The England international bagged his first-ever Champions League brace, with his second strike lauded as "absolute quality" by TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist.

It means the midfielder has now doubled his goal tally for the season, and is looking back on top of his game after a tough 2024/25 in which he played a subdued role.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Guardiola beamed as he stated: "I would say he's already there [at his best form]. There's no need to be close, he's already there.

Foden says Man City showing ' new togetherness' after 'tough' season

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It's true that we miss our goals. He gets incredible goals.

"How many times have seen that from Phil, right? How many times we have seen that generosity with the effort, but especially with the final third. We miss it a lot.

"I'm happy that new players scored the goals and not Erling Haaland."

City's next challenge is one of their toughest of the campaign so far, as Liverpool arrive at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Reds come into the game fresh from a 1-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid, a result that suggests their horrible run of form might be behind them.

Highlights: Mac Allister goal sees Reds beat Real, Alexander-Arnold booed

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The defending champions are third in the Premier League table, a point behind City.

It will therefore be a mouthwatering clash, with Guardiola continuing: "[They are] our biggest rival in the last nine, 10 years. Unnecessary to say how good they are, but ready.

"Tomorrow, training. Recover, one day off and prepare for the game as best as possible.

"We talk a lot about this week, how important it was. We handle it well.

"It's a pleasure to face them and with our people, our fans, they know how much it means. Hopefully, we can do a good game."

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