'World class' Foden reaching new heights, says Guardiola

Marcus Rashford's wonder strike had fired United into a shock lead at the Etihad. Erling Haaland was then guilty of a miss that will go down in Premier League folklore when he fired over an open goal just before half-time.

But Foden ensured City ceded no ground in the title race as he blasted into the top corner to level and then produced a composed finish 10 minutes from time. Haaland atoned for his earlier miss in added time as City moved to within one point of Liverpool ahead of a top-of-the-table clash between the two next Sunday.

"I always had the feeling he would score goals and now he is winning games. To become a world class-player at that age you have to win games," said Guardiola. "He lives to play football. That's why with 18, 19 years old he proved things but now he's more mature.

"He always scored goals but now scores goals that win games and when you do this, you reach another level as a player." An 11th league defeat of the season for United leaves Erik ten Hag's men 11 points adrift of the top four with 11 games remaining.

"That's my aim, to turn up in the big games," said Foden, who has now scored six goals in nine Premier League games against United. "That's what I want to do. I think this season I'm proving that.

"I understand what it means to the fans. It means everything to me. To score is even better, but it was all about the win today."