Leeds 1-3 Man City (Struijk 73’| Rodri 45+1′, Haaland 51′, 64′)
With no post-World Cup let-up in the title race from Arsenal, Manchester City broke down Leeds United to secure a 3-1 victory and close the gap at the top to five points.
Despite Illan Meslier’s best efforts to keep Erling Haaland at bay, Rodri struck on the stroke of half time to complete an exquisitely crafted team goal, inspired by the ubiquitous Kevin De Bruyne.
A mix-up between Liam Cooper and Robin Koch allowed City to double their lead, Jack Grealish – who had been guilty of a string of first half misses – capitalising to snatch possession before squaring to Haaland.
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By the time Sam Greenwood had landed a perfect delivery onto Pascal Struijk’s head for the consolation, Leeds were floundering, though Joe Gelhardt nearly set up a nervous finish, with his shot drifting inches wide.
Player ratings
Leeds
- Meslier – Recovered from illness to produce three saves to stop Haaland, best of all was the one-handed effort after De Bruyne’s through ball 7.5
- Kristensen – Poor positioning in the run-up to Rodri’s goal but began solidly 6
- Struijk – Searching ball that very nearly caused City problems but struggled at left back. Good header for the goal 6
- Cooper – Turned by Haaland, found ball-watching and zero awareness of where Grealish was for the second goal 3
- Koch – Struggled to contain De Bruyne and also guilty of a lack of awareness for Haaland’s goal 4
- Roca – Looked lost and a terrible clearance that nearly led to a goal 4
- Forshaw – Unfortunately showed why this was his first Premier League start of 2022. Lucky not to get booked. Rightly replaced with Klich 3
- Aaronson- Fun little nutmeg on Rodri and nearly created a goal for Gelhardt but guilty of a few stray passes 5
- Gnonto – Lively out wide but rarely anyone to provide service to 6.5
- Greenwood – Saw very little of the ball. A totally needless foul on Grealish but redeemed himself somewhat with his assist 5
- Rodrigo – Leeds struggled to get out of their own half so had few meaningful touches 4
Substitutes:
- Ayling – 6
- Llorente – 6
- Klich – 7
- Gelhardt – 7.5
- Gyabi – 6
Manchester City
- Ederson – Nothing to do with Leeds able to create so little. Got a hand to Struijk’s goal but not enough 6
- Lewis – Shone against Liverpool and impressive again, getting forward and linking up with De Bruyne. Unfortunate not to get an assist for Grealish. Booked for foul on Gnonto 7
- Ake – So much freedom to get forward and made some great runs, plus a ball up the pitch for Haaland’s early chance 7
- Stones Typically assured (except for his late back pass) and kept City ticking along from the back 7
- Akanji – Not perfect and fairly reserved with his passes but looks like exactly the kind of ball-playing defender Guardiola demands 6
- Gundogan – Some good touches when City got going but a miss from close range 6
- Rodri – Shepherded Aaronson well and couldn’t have picked a better time for a good finish with half time beckoning 7
- De Bruyne – Several inventive free kicks, a delicious pass to Gundogan and instrumental in the opening goal 8
- Grealish – Missed a sitter and put some of City’s best chances over, but inspired for the second goal and a clever 1-2 with Haaland for the third 7
- Mahrez – Some clever free-kicks over the top and combined well with Rodri for goal 6.5
- Haaland – His 26th goal in 20 appearances – though should have put away one of his early chances and the effort that would have sealed his hat-trick 7
Substitutes:
- Canelo – 7
- Palmer – N/A
- Foden – 6
Kalvin Phillips had returned to the squad but was left on the bench against his former club, with Pep Guardiola having complained about the midfielder’s weight after the World Cup.
Guardiola’s only concern now is an unrelenting fixture list and with good reason.
After Wednesday night’s match, City face Everton, Chelsea (twice), Southampton, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves all before 22 January.
This man is unstoppable
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 28, 2022
Erling Haaland scores his 20th Premier League goal of the season in just his 14th appearance#PLonPrime #LEEMCI pic.twitter.com/yCewfxlMuG
Grealish is an easy target, but boo-boys just can’t keep him down
By Pete Hall at Elland Road – read his full analysis here
The difference between the great and the good is how one responds when the chips are down, the chances are not going in and the opposition fans relish your every stumble.
Jack Grealish’s price tag and abrasive playing style makes him the easiest of targets, and as chance after chance came and went in a frustrating first half at Elland Road, you could see the blood pressure starting to boil over.
Yet, as is required at Manchester City, and why Pep Guardiola has defended his £100m man time and again, Grealish kept coming, even with his every touch greeted with a chorus of boos, registering his first two Premier League assists of the season, for Erling Haaland of course, to again help drive the champions to victory.
Grealish seemed to be wrestling with his own emotions. Fans were getting on his back after he took his time to get back to his feet following a hefty challenge early in the match – something they don’t take too kindly to in this part of the world – before two chances were blazed over, when it looked easier to miss.
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Like London buses, a second assist soon followed, again from a position Grealish would have been forgiven for shooting himself from.
With the job done, and the tackles still that bit more tasty when Grealish was on the end of them, Guardiola took him out of the firing line, with City supporters serenading the England international as he departed.
‘Hungry’ Haaland returns home
Haaland was born in Leeds and for the first time played at his hometown ground, in front of his delighted parents in the stands.
“My father and mother were on the tribune today,” he told Amazon Prime. “It’s special. I’m happy – it’s a special moment in my career. When I was young, I had an Eirik Bakke shirt in my room and a jersey of my father. In my craziest fantasy, I couldn’t think of being at Elland Road and scoring for Manchester City against Leeds.”
The affection might not be mutual after his double condemned Leeds to defeat, though there was a sense of the inevitable as he added his 19th and 20th goals of the league season. He has already matched the Golden Boot tally for five separate Premier League seasons and remains on course to smash the record for goals in a single campaign (currently held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole on 34).
“I have a target but I cannot say it,” Haaland added. “I just said inside the dressing room that I could have scored five but the most important thing is that we won.
“We see Arsenal at the top now and we have to hunt them. For me, as a striker, I have to score more. I could have scored a couple more but that’s life and I have to train more.
“I’ve been at home, a bit mad that I’ve not been at the World Cup. I recharged my batteries.
“Watching other people score to win games at the World Cup triggered, motivated and irritated me. I’m more hungry and more ready than ever.”
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