With the final fixture of Matchday 18 signalling the end of the festive footballing period, Manchester City knew that only a win at Elland Road would be sufficient to keep pace with Arteta’s Gunners, following their 3-1 victory over West Ham on Boxing Day.
Having lost to Brentford in their last Premier League game before the World Cup, Guardiola was looking to avoid back-to-back league defeats for the first time since the 18/19 season.
The odds were in their favour heading into the fixture, however, as Leeds United have been unable to win any of their home games in the top flight against the reigning champions in the last seven attempts.
The release of the starting line-ups highlighted that Pep would only make some minor tweaks to the team that had overcome Liverpool in last week’s EFL Cup clash.
Ederson would come in for Stefan Ortega between the sticks for the Citizens, playing in their usual, fluid 433 formation with Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis – following an impressive outing in his last game – starting in the full-back positions.
John Stones returned to partner Manuel Akanji in defence with Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan making up the midfield. Erling Haaland would be flanked by Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish coming in for Cole Palmer to complete City’s attack.
Leeds United would also make three changes from their last friendly outing against Monaco, with Rodrigo leading the line, ahead of Joe Gelhardt. He was supported by Gnoto and Aaronson on the flanks, with Sam Greenwood, Forshaw and Marc Roca in midfield. Kristensen, Koch, Cooper and Struijk made up the back four – with Illan Meslier returning in net.
The game began in lively fashion, with the inevitable Erling Haaland being played in on goal within the first 60 seconds. Having latched onto Ake’s lofted through ball, his chipped attempt was smartly closed down by Meslier, and a slight touch was enough to stop the ball from nestling in the goal.
Would this miss be a sign of things to come for the imposing Norwegian? Spoiler alert: It wouldn’t.
However it was not Haaland who broke the deadlock for City, as following a 45-minute period dominated by the visiting team, it would be Rodri to turn home his shot for the opening goal of the match, picking up the rebound from Mahrez’s initial attempt.
Meslier would have been disappointed to concede in that manner, having kept the game alive for Jesse Marsch’s youthful side up until that point, but they had not offered a lot moving in the opposite direction, bar a wild attempt from Wilfried Gnoto.
The second half would play out in very similar fashion to the first, with Manchester City operating on the front foot and Haaland would not be denied – following a loose pass from Liam Cooper, Grealish was able to pick up the stray ball and charge into the box. A deft touch would roll the ball into Haaland’s path for a simple finish into an empty net for his 19th goal for City in the Premier League.
The duo would again combine for Haaland’s 20th strike of the season – which would break the record for the least amount of games taken to score 20 PL goals, a feat he has achieved in just 14 games – with a powerful shot into the corner following a one-two with Grealish.
With Marsch’s side being overrun all game, many changes were made with 25 minutes remaining in the match – with Kristensen, Forshaw, Cooper and Rodrigo making way for Ayling, Klich, Diego Llorente and Joe Gelhardt respectively. Leeds would pull one back from a Sam Greenwood corner, with a strong header from Pascal Struijk being too powerful for Ederson to keep out.
There may even have been a brief clamour for a late comeback from the Elland Road faithful, had Gelhardt’s attempted shot squirmed inside of the post with ten minutes to go, but it was not to be, and ultimately City ran out as comfortable victors.
Leeds United will look for an improved performance in their next match. However, this will not be an easy task for the side currently residing at 15th in the table, as they are away to Newcastle United.
This result leaves Guardiola’s men five points off of Arsenal at the top of the table, and if things continue in the manner that they are, the rescheduled fixture at the Emirates Stadium on 15th February could certainly be a title decider and has the potential to be an all-time Premier League classic.
With the final fixture of Matchday 18 signalling the end of the festive footballing period, Manchester City knew that only a win at Elland Road would be sufficient to keep pace with Arteta’s Gunners, following their 3-1 victory over West Ham on Boxing Day.
Having lost to Brentford in their last Premier League game before the World Cup, Guardiola was looking to avoid back-to-back league defeats for the first time since the 18/19 season.
The odds were in their favour heading into the fixture, however, as Leeds United have been unable to win any of their home games in the top flight against the reigning champions in the last seven attempts.
The release of the starting line-ups highlighted that Pep would only make some minor tweaks to the team that had overcome Liverpool in last week’s EFL Cup clash.
Ederson would come in for Stefan Ortega between the sticks for the Citizens, playing in their usual, fluid 433 formation with Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis – following an impressive outing in his last game – starting in the full-back positions.
John Stones returned to partner Manuel Akanji in defence with Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan making up the midfield. Erling Haaland would be flanked by Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish coming in for Cole Palmer to complete City’s attack.
Leeds United would also make three changes from their last friendly outing against Monaco, with Rodrigo leading the line, ahead of Joe Gelhardt. He was supported by Gnoto and Aaronson on the flanks, with Sam Greenwood, Forshaw and Marc Roca in midfield. Kristensen, Koch, Cooper and Struijk made up the back four – with Illan Meslier returning in net.
The game began in lively fashion, with the inevitable Erling Haaland being played in on goal within the first 60 seconds. Having latched onto Ake’s lofted through ball, his chipped attempt was smartly closed down by Meslier, and a slight touch was enough to stop the ball from nestling in the goal.
Would this miss be a sign of things to come for the imposing Norwegian? Spoiler alert: It wouldn’t.
However it was not Haaland who broke the deadlock for City, as following a 45-minute period dominated by the visiting team, it would be Rodri to turn home his shot for the opening goal of the match, picking up the rebound from Mahrez’s initial attempt.
Meslier would have been disappointed to concede in that manner, having kept the game alive for Jesse Marsch’s youthful side up until that point, but they had not offered a lot moving in the opposite direction, bar a wild attempt from Wilfried Gnoto.
The second half would play out in very similar fashion to the first, with Manchester City operating on the front foot and Haaland would not be denied – following a loose pass from Liam Cooper, Grealish was able to pick up the stray ball and charge into the box. A deft touch would roll the ball into Haaland’s path for a simple finish into an empty net for his 19th goal for City in the Premier League.
The duo would again combine for Haaland’s 20th strike of the season – which would break the record for the least amount of games taken to score 20 PL goals, a feat he has achieved in just 14 games – with a powerful shot into the corner following a one-two with Grealish.
With Marsch’s side being overrun all game, many changes were made with 25 minutes remaining in the match – with Kristensen, Forshaw, Cooper and Rodrigo making way for Ayling, Klich, Diego Llorente and Joe Gelhardt respectively. Leeds would pull one back from a Sam Greenwood corner, with a strong header from Pascal Struijk being too powerful for Ederson to keep out.
There may even have been a brief clamour for a late comeback from the Elland Road faithful, had Gelhardt’s attempted shot squirmed inside of the post with ten minutes to go, but it was not to be, and ultimately City ran out as comfortable victors.
Leeds United will look for an improved performance in their next match. However, this will not be an easy task for the side currently residing at 15th in the table, as they are away to Newcastle United.
This result leaves Guardiola’s men five points off of Arsenal at the top of the table, and if things continue in the manner that they are, the rescheduled fixture at the Emirates Stadium on 15th February could certainly be a title decider and has the potential to be an all-time Premier League classic.
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