Pep Guardiola has named the best player in the Premier League, it’s not Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne

Pep Guardiola named who he believes is the best player in the Premier League in the wake of Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Manchester United.

United’s Marcus Rashford netted the game’s opener from some 25 yards before Phil Foden claimed a second-half brace and Erling Haaland added a third to give City a 3-1 victory.

The result saw City go to within a point of Liverpool at the Premier League summit and ended United's run of 143 Premier League games without losing when leading at the break.

After the game, Guardiola labelled Player of the Match Foden as the Premier League’s best player.

The Spaniard told the BBC’s Match of the Day: "It is the amount of games he is playing. He was always a talented player but now he is more mature and understands more the game, especially defensively.

“He can play middle, right, make moments and cut inside, play in the left, scoring from the left. What can I say? He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable.”

On Foden’s defensive contribution, Guardiola added: "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 scored a brace in Man City's 3-1 win over Man Utd

On the game as a whole, Guardiola said: "Not winning would not be good but we matched the result with the performance and it is really good.

"We started really well but after seven minutes and the first long ball we were not in the correct line. We were a little more anxious in the first half in the final third but yeah it was a really good game.

"They are a team built for the transitions and they can kill you in them. That is why you have to not lose that. If we attack not in a good position they can make good transitions and score a second goal and make it more difficult."

Topics: Manchester City, Manchester United, Premier League, Pep Guardiola, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Erling Haaland

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.