Manchester City have defeated Leeds to extend their lead on the Premier League table to four points.
Starting lineup
Manchester City: Ederson; Manuel Akanji, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake; Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gundogan; Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez, Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden; Erling Haaland.
Leeds United: Joel Robles; Rasmus Kristensen, Maximilian Wober, Junior Firpo; Luke Ayling, Adam Forshaw, Marc Roca, Jack Harrison; Weston McKennie, Wilfried Gnonto; Patrick Bamford.
Manchester City dominated play from the start as they aimed at extending their lead on the Premier League top.
It was Leeds first game since they sacked their former manager Javi Gracia with English football veteran, Sam Allardyce, now in-charge of proceedings at Leeds dugout.
Saddled with the task of helping the Peacocks escape relegation, Allardyce faced a big task to salvage a point against in-form and title-chasing City.
It was a one-sided affair at the Etihad as both sides battle it out.
Leeds went into the game tied on points with Leicester and Nottingham Forest – the closest teams to the drop zone.
Sitting 17th on the table, Leeds needed a win to retain survival hopes but grabbing such big results against Pep Guardiola’s City looks unlikely.
The Peacocks were already losing balance as the match kicked off with Manchester City comfortably sitting atop proceedings.
The home side were too good for the visitors, wielding over 80% of the ball possession while Leeds managed a paltry 20%.
Playing second fiddle to the Premier League champions, the Peacocks were able to hold off the challenge for a while until the 20th minute when City finally took a deserve lead.
Pep Guardiola’s first signing, IIkay Gundogan, put the hosts in front after he slotted home Ryadh Mahrez’s cross.
Kevin De Bruyne bagged credit for the goal after he sets Mahrez up with a wide pass. The Algeria international then latched on his pass, dribbled off Firpo before crossing for IIkay Gundogan who slotted it home to give the home side the lead.
Seven minutes after the opening goal, IIkay Gundogan doubled the lead for Manchester City to earn his brace.
It was Ryadh Mahrez again with the assist for the second goal and it almost took an identical path as the first goal.
The former Leicester City winger found IIkay Gundogan again in the box with a cross, setting him up to slot home his second goal pass Fobles.
Manchester City took a first half 2-0 lead into the break. The City machine were very efficient, beating off the all-man defense by the visitors to score two goals in the first half.
Manchester City still dominated proceedings in the second half despite a 2-0 lead.
The Peacocks struggled both with duels, second balls, and possession and were unable to match City’s pace and press.
Mahrez-Gundogan link turned a problem for the visitors. While sitting back to defend, Leeds hope to find way through counter attacks. They managed just a shot on target in the first half but were far off goal chances.
Gundogan failed to grab his hat-trick as he missed a penalty in the 84th minute.
A minute after the penalty miss, Rodrygo put one back for Leeds United in the 85th minute but City survived the late scare to grab a 2-1 win after the final whistle and extended their lead on the Premier League table to 4 points.
