City Frights

Klopp’s champions are thrashed

The present is that Liverpool is fine champions, deserving of the lengthy celebrations that perhaps contributed to this defeat.

But this exhibition match was about Manchester City's future. And the City's future is Phil Foden.

The careful nurturing is over the protective cover off. If he stays fit, there is unlikely to be a player more vital to Pep Guardiola’s hopes of regaining the title than Foden.

In harness with Kevin de Bruyne, he was simply a joy to watch.

It was not just his slick assist and superb goal that captivated the few inside the Etihad, it was his game-long intelligence, his driving runs.