Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 17.
Player analysis: Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Manchester City playmakers Rayan Cherki (four assists) and Phil Foden (six goals, one assist) have produced 11 goal contributions between them in the last four matches.
Worryingly for the rest of the division, the duo also appear to have struck up a fantastic chemistry on the pitch.
A slow-burning partnership
Pep Guardiola waited until early November before naming Cherki and Foden in the same starting XI as the manager pondered tactical and stylistic concerns.
How would these two gifted attacking midfielders click, without occupying the same spaces? And how could he fit them in alongside the in-form Jeremy Doku?
They have worked beautifully in tandem with one another in Guardiola's 4-3-2-1 formation, mainly using Foden in a deeper role on the left of central midfield – with Cherki as his right sided No 10 and Doku to the left.
In fact, Cherki and Foden’s combined guile and imagination have unlocked City’s goalscoring potential in recent games.
City have scored 12 goals, at a rate of one every 30.16 minutes per goal, in the five Premier League matches Cherki and Foden have started together,
That is far better than City’s season average of one every 37.89 minutes.
How Cherki helps Foden
Three of Cherki's impressive six assists have laid on goals for the resurgent Foden.
The most eye-catching assist came from an outlandish rabona cross, which was headed in by the onrushing England star during Man City's 3-0 success at home to Sunderland.
We may not see a more impishly brilliant assist all season.
Watch: Cherki's rabona assist for Foden
Cherki's line-breaking dribbles add a welcome dimension to the side, especially when Doku is out injured, as he is right now.
With both men occupying twin No 10 roles at Crystal Palace last weekend, Cherki's terrific surging run forced Adam Wharton to mistime his tackle.
He then drew Maxence Lacroix towards him before slipping a pass to Foden in space, as shown below.
From there, the 25-year-old drilled home his 12th league goal from outside the box.
It was Foden's eighth strike from distance since the start of 2023/24, the most among Premier League players.
Man City’s dramatic stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 home victory over Leeds United also owed plenty to Cherki, who picked out his team-mate in a pocket of space, as shown below.
How’s Foden’s new position suits him
Foden has been used in a deeper role far more frequently this season.
Although Foden initially burst onto the scene in that position, it has taken time for Guardiola to gain full trust in his ability to consistently keep the ball in those areas of the pitch.
In the graphic below, you can see the difference between Foden’s positions in 2025/26, compared to the previous four campaigns.
Foden has not moved forward from the left of a midfield trio much prior to this season.
Foden's positions 25/26 | Foden's positions 21/22 to 24/25
Encouraging Foden to arrive in attacking situations from deep is working very well for Man City.
“He’s one of the best players we have in small spaces in the final third, by far,” said Guardiola in October. “In terms of assists, and of goals in small spaces, how he times an attack, and the desire to score a goal, he is the best we have.”
Foden is getting on the end of better-quality chances in this role despite dribbling less, making fewer progressive passes, and having a lower number of touches inside the opposition box.
His Expected Goals (xG) of 0.124 per shot this season is higher than his corresponding figures for last season (0.096) and his superb 2023/24 campaign (0.099).
Foden's attacking stats 25/26
As shown in this touches comparison graphic, below, the England international - who is considered more of a "false nine" by Thomas Tuchel at international level - is having far more involvement inside the middle third.
He is linking play together nicely in those areas and then intelligently timing his runs into those all-important holes higher up the pitch.
Foden's open-play touches 25/26
Twin No 10s at Christmas?
With the irrepressible Doku possibly sidelined until the new year, Guardiola might be tempted to pair Cherki and Foden as twin No 10s over the festive period, starting against West Ham United.
This will add a new layer to their working relationship because most of Foden’s passes to the France international have been earlier on in the build-up phase, finding him just twice inside the box so far this season.
Foden's passes to Cherki 25/26
Playing in the advanced role, Foden may be in a better spot to help set up Cherki for more chances.
As shown below, Foden has drifted across from the left of midfield to great effect to be the recipient of incisive Cherki's passes in recent weeks.
They have certainly built up a slick rapport which may put fear into the Hammers' hearts this weekend.
Cherki's passes to Foden 25/26
Two of the division's very best
Foden lies fifth in the standings for most direct Premier League goal involvements so far this season, with seven goals and two assists.
It is a welcome return to form, and those contributions have eased the burden on prolific striker Erling Haaland to carry Man City to victory on his own.
Most direct PL goal involvements 25/26
| Player | Goals | Assists | Total |
| Erling Haaland (MCI) | 17 | 3 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandes (MUN | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| Igor Thiago (BRE) | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Antoine Semenyo (BOU) | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Phil Foden (MCI) | 7 | 2 | 9 |
Scroll horizontally to see full table on mobile
Guardiola must also be hugely excited at the potential of two-footed Cherki, who has made a seamless transition to Premier League football.
Cherki is currently second in the race for the Golden Playmaker award for most assists, and he has grown in influence as the season progresses.
In his press conference ahead of the West Ham match, Guardiola was cautious with his praise, though.
"He [Cherki] is a guy who was playing as he played in the street, but I want to push him," he said.
"I won’t give him too many compliments. He is so young, and has the mentality to be better, and better, but a few things can improve."
Cherki's numbers are top class though, especially for someone so new to the physicality of English football.
Cherki's attacking threat 25/26
| Stat | Per 90 | PL rank |
| Assists | 1.11 | 1st |
|---|---|---|
| Expected assists | 0.47 | 1st |
| Big chances created | 1.29 | 1st |
| Through balls | 1.48 | 1st |
| Chances created | 3.32 | 2nd |
With six wins in their last seven Premier League matches (and seven league victories in a row on home turf), Man City will be full of confidence ahead of this weekend.
With Cherki and Foden in this kind of form, and Haaland ahead of them, it is little wonder there is so much positivity.