Man City pulled off a massive comeback at Anfield, beating Liverpool 2-1 after being down late. Bernardo Silva equalized in the 84th minute, then Haaland buried a penalty in the 93rd to complete the turnaround after Szoboszlai had put Liverpool ahead. Absolutely crucial three points for City’s title chase.
But honestly? A lot of us were watching Phil Foden on the bench.
Why’s Foden Not Playing?
Look, this is the 2024 PFA Player of the Year we’re talking about. The guy’s been massive for City over the years. But he hasn’t started a Premier League game since getting subbed off at halftime in that horrible derby loss to United back on January 17. He broke his hand in that match too, though apparently he’s been cleared to play with protection.
The bigger issue? He’s been in a proper rut. No goals, no assists since December 14. That’s nearly two months of nothing.
Pep’s been pretty open about it all. He keeps saying stuff like “he’s my son, we’re protecting him” and “he’s human, everyone has ups and downs.” Basically, Pep’s not lost faith, he’s just giving Phil time to find his form again without the pressure of starting every big game.
Who’s Playing Instead?
At Anfield, Pep went with Marmoush, Semenyo, and Haaland up front.
Lately, these attacking spots have been rotating between Marmoush, Semenyo, Cherki, Doku and Ait-Nouri. Pep’s clearly going for fresh legs and physicality in these tough away fixtures rather than relying on Foden’s usual magic in tight spaces.
Phil didn’t even get on the pitch at Anfield, which tells you everything.
The Look, And Then The Hug
Before kickoff, cameras caught Foden absolutely giving Pep the side-eye from the bench. Proper “are you serious right now?” energy. You could feel the frustration through the screen.
👀 Pep x Phil Foden… pic.twitter.com/T7I76O3NtB
— City Chief (@City_Chief) February 8, 2026
Fast forward to the 101st minute. City thought they’d scored but it got chalked off. Chaos everywhere. And there’s Foden, rushing over to Pep for a massive hug. Not a polite one either, a proper embrace. All smiles, all love.
This win literally cured every depression ahahhahaha https://t.co/xzVGRwXu6W pic.twitter.com/l8WczDYhcn
— sev⁶ (@obviouslyruben6) February 8, 2026
That’s the whole relationship right there, isn’t it? Yeah, Phil’s annoyed he’s not playing. Course he is. But when it matters, when City need the points, he’s still Pep’s biggest supporter. And Pep’s still his biggest protector.
Trust Goes Both Ways
City ended their Anfield curse with this win and kept themselves in the title race. For Foden, it was another reminder that even when he’s frustrated, even when he’s not at his best, Pep still sees him as family.
“Step by step, he’ll be back,” Pep said. And based on that hug? Phil believes it too.
The goals and assists will come. The starts will come. Right now, it’s about patience. And judging by what we saw at Anfield, that bond between player and manager is stronger than any bad run of form.
