Phil Foden has flicked the switch. In Manchester City’s gritty victory over Leeds, the 25-year-old recaptured the razor-sharp instincts that once made him the team’s brightest star, turning moments of chaos into clinical brilliance and reminding everyone why he is indispensable to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Foden’s return feels like a story of reclamation
After a career-best season that saw him explode into the spotlight, a difficult international summer and a muted campaign followed, leaving the player and the club searching for answers.
Now, though, the old Foden is back: the player who times his runs on the half-turn, who reads the game in microseconds and who converts tiny pockets of space into match-defining moments.
Against Leeds he produced two telling strikes
One inside the opening minute and another deep in stoppage time, bookending a performance that masked a scrappier team display. Those goals were not just about technique; they were about timing, intelligence and the uncanny ability to draw defenders away.
Erling Haaland, even on a day when he barely registered in the final third, played a vital supporting role. By occupying attention and dragging markers out of position, Haaland created the vacuum Foden exploits so ruthlessly.
The Norwegian’s presence, even when quiet, remains a tactical fulcrum for City’s attacking geometry.
Foden’s current numbers
Six goals and three assists across competitions hint at a player rediscovering his peak.
Guardiola’s praise was unambiguous: this is the Foden he has always trusted, the one who asks for the ball and dares to decide games. City have closed the gap on Arsenal and look more like contenders again, buoyed by a player who has become both a creative spark and a dependable match-winner.
Sunderland’s seismic arrival in the Premier League
Sunderland’s season reads like a manifesto in resilience.
Their comeback from two goals down to secure victory, a first in their Premier League history when trailing by that margin, was a statement of intent and a vivid illustration of why this club is the most compelling new arrival in the top flight.
What makes Sunderland’s rise remarkable is how quickly a modestly assembled squad has gelled.
Built on a shoestring by Championship standards, the team that earned promotion cost roughly £10m and yet now competes with a cohesion that belies its budget. Manager Régis Le Bris has forged a unit that blends smart recruitment with tactical clarity, prioritising robustness and collective discipline over sentiment.
Key signings have slotted in seamlessly
Granit Xhaka provides midfield steel and leadership, Noah Sadiki has been a revelation defensively, and goalkeeper Robin Roefs has added calm between the posts.
Equally important are the club’s homegrown or long-serving figures; Dan Ballard, Wilson Isidor and Enzo Le Fée, who have stepped up without missing a beat.
Le Fée’s involvement in all three goals in the win over Bournemouth, scoring once and setting up two more, encapsulates Sunderland’s blend of craft and courage.
Perched sixth and unbeaten at the Stadium of Light this season, Sunderland have turned their ground into a fortress and become a thorn in the side of established powers. Visiting teams now approach the north-east with caution, and the club’s fearless ascent is reshaping expectations about who belongs in the Premier League. Long may their disruption to the hierarchy continue.
