Pep claims Foden is the best player in the Premier League after United brace

Pep Guardiola claimed Phil Foden is the best player in the Premier League after his match-winning brace against Manchester United.

Foden's second-half double cancelled out Marcus Rashford's sensational opener before Erling Haaland added a third in the 3-1 win.

And Guardiola was full of praise for his young attacker after he turned the game around with two tremendous strikes.

He told the BBC: "He [Foden] is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable.

"It is the amount of games he is playing.

"He was always a talented player but now he is more mature and understands the game, especially defensively.

"He can play middle, right, make moments and cut inside, play in the left, scoring from the left."

Guardiola was full of compliments for Foden's work ethic but acknowledges his attacking contributions are the most important element of his game.

He said: "When he scores two goals it gives me more pleasure than the other stuff.

"We don't negotiate over that, the guy who doesn't do that doesn't stay in the team.

"He loves football, he lives for football.

"He is a joy and his work ethic is unbelievable."

Foden has had a fantastic campaign, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in the league.

And the academy product stated that Manchester derby success means "everything" to him.

He said: "My aim is to turn up in the big games.

"That is what I want to do and I think this season I am proving that. I just need to keep working hard.

"I understand what it means for the fans — a derby at the Etihad.

"It means everything for me, to score as well is even better but it was about the win today."