Manchester City could only draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.
The reigning champions remain unbeaten, but wins for rivals Arsenal and Liverpool mean City are now in second place, a point behind Liverpool and level on points with the Gunners.
Josko Gvardiol gave Manchester City the lead against Newcastle.
But the lively Anthony Gordon pulled one back for the Magpies, after scoring a penalty following a challenge from Ederson.
City couldn’t find another goal with Newcastle putting in a solid defensive display.
It is not an awful result for City, with Newcastle clearly a great side these days under Eddie Howe and St. James’ Park a difficult place to go. They will surely take points off many good sides that go there this season.
Yesterday, Pep decided to once again start Phil Foden on the bench – and former City player and manager Stuart Pearce now feels it’s time for him to become a key performer again.
Stuart Pearce urges Pep Guardiola to start Phil Foden after Man City drop points at Newcastle
It has been a very low-key start to the new season for Foden.
He was one of several players who came back late after his involvement with England at Euro 2024.
£225,000-a-week man Foden then missed a couple of games through illness, and since becoming available again he has not really kicked on.
He was Player of the Season last year, but Foden seemingly has work to do right now to become a regular starter again.
Stuart Pearce was commentating on talkSPORT yesterday, and offered some thoughts about City’s academy graduate.
He said: “What I would say, he’s (Pep) got to get a tune out of Phil Foden.
“Foden doesn’t need, with no Rodri and no De Bruyne, to be sat on the bench. He needs to be contributing from the offset.”
When asked if he felt Foden should have started the game, Pearce added: “No because Pep knows. He sees them every day in training. He’s on the bench for a reason.
“Whether he wants to rest him and ease him in because of what he’s done in the summer. Or because his form’s not looking that good. You never know what goes on behind the scenes.
“What you can turn around and say, Gundogan didn’t play particularly well today and if Foden is being kept out by that performance by Gundogan next week I’ll be very surprised.”
City need Foden back on song
Foden has had a peculiar start to the new season, but hopefully it will not be long before we start seeing him back at his best.
The 24-year-old has not been a prominent feature so far and who knows what the real reason is for that.
Pep has played down the situation and said that it has to do with nothing more than his fitness and getting him back up to speed.
One thing is for sure though, City need Foden back on top form. Especially with a hugely influential player like Rodri now out for the foreseeable future and De Bruyne also struggling with injury.
