Phil Foden decision could lead to Man City outcry this week

Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the Etihad on a night when Phil Foden overshadowed Erling Haaland in front of goal.

Manchester City extended their unbeaten start to the Champions League as they crushed Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland scoring again and Phil Foden netting twice.

City struck first through Foden, who found space between the lines to collect a pass from Tijjani Reijnders and used the space to turn and then pick a spot, arrowing a low shot beyond Gregor Kobel.

Haaland doubled the lead when he slammed in a first-time finish from Jeremy Doku's low ball in and the game appeared to be done when Foden scored another stunner, again collecting a Reijnders pass to finish beautifully with his left foot.

But Waldemar Anton scored with 18 minutes to go and City wobbled after that as the visitors finally found a bit of momentum, although they were unable to make further inroads and it was Rayan Cherki who rounded off the scoring.

Foden times it right

Foden put his fingers to his lips after scoring his first goal since September 24. He recently admitted he would often see criticism of his performances and maybe he had been seeking it out again, but he's not been doing a lot wrong this season.

It was a goal made to look easy. The quick turn and then the delightfully simple finish from 25 yards, arrowed into the bottom corner of Gregor Kobel's goal. Only a player of the highest ability can find that kind of finish. He didn't need to overhit the ball or look for the spectacular finish, but instead opted for efficiency and simplicity.

It's a difficult feat to pull off, but he managed it again early in the second half. This time he collected a Tijjani Reijnders pass on the half turn, took a touch to steady himself and bent another picture-book finish into the corner of Kobel's net.

Foden timed his return to the scoresheet perfectly. Thomas Tuchel names his England squad on Friday and after the bold calls he made in October, it will be picked over with interest. Foden was one of those left out in the interest of squad harmony and keeping an in-form group together.

However, it would be a travesty if he doesn't go to the World Cup. Tuchel needs his best players back in the fold and right now there are few better English footballers about than Foden.

Haaland the leader

Haaland's promotion to the City leadership group has been one of the major talking points of the season but he is fourth in line for the captaincy in that four-man group. It just so happened that he was the only starter from that quartet last night, with Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva on the bench and Rodri missing again.

It was just the second time Haaland had worn the captain's armband from the start, with the previous time coming in February when City beat Newcastle United 4-0.

Haaland has embraced leadership this season and has been having a lot of fun as well. He had a beaming smile on his face when he leapt off the team coach at around 6.40pm and then bounded down the stairs into the Etihad, greeting City staff members with enthusiastic fist bumps on the way. The fact that he was captain against his former club might have put an extra spring in his step.

He performed like a leader again and it was interesting that he kept the armband even when Dias came on to steady the ship after Dortmund had threatened to get back in the game.

Champions League target

Guardiola made the point on Tuesday that in the old format of the Champions League, three wins from three at home would mean one victory on the road would be enough to secure qualification.

In the new league phase, the picture isn't quite as clear, but the target of taking 12 points from 12 at the Etihad still feels like it would lay the platform for a top-eight finish and smooth passage into the last-16, especially as the Blues already have four points from two away games.

Last season they managed just eight points from their four home games and that not only left them sweating on matchday eight, but meant a spot in the play-off round and an ultimately miserable meeting with Real Madrid.

This season they are already on six, with games against Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray to come. They are halfway to booking what will surely be a direct route into the knockout stages.

Defensive lapses

There were Feyenoord flashbacks when Anton fired in with 18 minutes to go to give Borussia Dortmund a lifeline in this game. City had been comfortable, although Nico Kovac's quadruple change midway through the second half had given the visitors some impetus and Guardiola's side had been slow to respond.

The manner in which they scored angered Guardiola, who immediately turned to his bench. A free-kick from a central area near the halfway line ended up in the back of the net via a simple pass out wide and then a simple low cross.

The goal unsettled City even further and Dortmund had a couple of excellent chances to get another back in the nervy moments that followed. Guardiola had initially called for Rayan Cherki and Bernardo Silva to come on, but with his team wobbling, he also sent for Dias.

Cherki's demotion

It was something of a surprise to see Cherki dropped to the bench after his eye-catching display on Sunday, when he got 73 minutes against Bournemouth after completing the full game against Swansea.

Cherki was in the best place of his City career so far but any chance of the momentum being lost was declared null and void by his smart cameo.

The finish that brought him another goal took a slight deflection but the run had been positive and he deserved his slice of fortune. The decision to put him on the bench might have been made with Liverpool on his mind. On this form, he could well upstage the £116million Florian Wirtz.