Man City returned to the top of the table after sinking Leeds Utd 4-0 at Elland Road, with one City player earning a nine in our player ratings and his opposite number receiving a dismal three.
Man City took just 12 minutes to break the deadlock when clever movement from Rodri saw the Spaniard glance home Phil Foden’s whipped free kick.
Leeds ensured the floodgates did not open, however, and began to cause City problems as a fiery and frantic first half saw tensions threaten to boil over.
But Leeds’ weakness from set pieces was exposed for a second time eight minutes into the second half. Ruben Dias rose highest to knock down into the path of Nathan Ake who coolly swept home.
Leeds’ heads did not dip, though City did not relent either. The red-hot Gabriel Jesus made it 3-0 with 10 minutes remaining to eliminate any slim chance of a late fight-back. There was even time for 37-year-old Fernandinho to put the icing on the cake with a fourth.
Manchester City (4-3-3)
Ederson: Untroubled in the first half with the bulk of Leeds’ attacks breaking down before a shot came in. Made a smart stop in injury time to preserve the clean sheet. 6
Joao Cancelo: Heart in mouth early when slipping as the furthest man back. Rodrigo’s inability to pick out a pass spared his blushes. Surprisingly quiet going forward but did show a glimpse of his mercurial talents with a raking cross-field ball that teed up a Jesus chance. 7
Ruben Dias: Always on hand to snuff out any burgeoning Leeds attacks. Helped ensure Ederson did not have a save to make before the break. Rose highest to get the knock-down for Ake to notch City’s pressure-relieving second. 8
Aymeric Laporte: Put his head in where it hurts to prevent Leeds erasing City’s lead straight away. Soldiered on despite a lengthy stoppage in play after his head clash with Koch and quickly regained his cool. Vital block to deny Raphinha with 20 minutes remaining that would’ve teed up a nervy finish. 8
Nathan Ake: Given…
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