Manchester City cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League back to five points as they came through a tricky Elland Road test courtesy of goals from Rodri and Erling Haaland in West Yorkshire.
City spurned several good chances in the first half, with Jack Grealish in particular guilty of blazing over on two occasions when well placed as Leeds held firm.
However, in first time stoppage time, they were undone as Kevin De Bruyne found Riyad Mahrez, who in turn found Rodri to bundle home with moments to go until half time.
It looked like Leeds and Manchester City would be heading into the break 0-0.
But Rodri scored the game’s opener, tapping in after Riyad Mahrez’s shot was parried.
📽️ @primevideosport#LEEMCI pic.twitter.com/w8oNYfvaAa
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 28, 2022
And, minutes into the second 45, the tie was effectively put to bed as Jack Grealish pounced on a loose pass before squaring the ball unselfishly for Erling Haaland to tap in.
Not content with just the one goal, Haaland doubled his own tally on the night to make it 3-0 to Manchester City on the hour, taking him to 20 goals so far this season alone.
But Leeds were not prepared to go down without a fight, as Pascal Struijk found the back of the net with a powerful header from a corner to set up a potential grandstand final 15 minutes.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Leeds United
- GK: Illan Meslier (8) – Will feel like he could have done better for Manchester City’s third goal but was otherwise splendid.
- RB: Rasmus Kristensen (6) – Dealt with Jack Grealish well in the first half, but visibly tired and was withdrawn on the hour.
- CB: Robin Koch (7) – Was Leeds’ best defender even as they struggled to deal with Erling Haaland.
- CB: Liam Cooper (5) – Was rash at times and struggled to deal with Manchester City’s interplay. Taken off 20 minutes from time.
- LB: Pascal Struijk (6) – Worked well to nullify the threat of Riyad Mahrez, but was caught out for the first goal just before half time.
- CDM: Marc Roca (7) – Dealt with the Manchester City midfielders well.
- CM: Adam Forshaw (6) – Looked rusty on his first start in 2022, but showed some nice footwork when called upon.
- CM: Sam Greenwood (6) – Quietly effective and produced a wicked corner for Leeds’ goal.
- RW: Brendan Aaronson (5) – Pressed well but hardly saw the ball.
- ST: Rodrigo (5) – Fed off scraps for the most part and taken off twenty minutes from the end.
- LW: Wilfried Gnonto (7) – Leeds United’s most exciting player on the night, and gave Rico Lewis plenty to think about with his direct approach.
Substitutes
- Luke Ayling (7) – Kept Foden very quiet when he came on.
- Matheusz Klich (6) – Straight into the thick of it as he picked up a yellow. Didn’t do much else of note.
- Joe Gelhardt (5) – Couldn’t really have any effect on the tie.
- Diego Llorente (6) – Solid when he came on.
- Darko Gyabi (N/A) – Only on for the final few minutes.
Team
- GK: Ederson (8) – Didn’t have much to do and impressed as usual with his distribution.
- RB: Rico Lewis (6) – Had a tough night against Gnonto and was booked for his efforts, but didn’t look out of place in his Premier League debut.
- CB: Manuel Akanji (8) – Imperious in defence on the ball, and didn’t look troubled off it.
- CB: John Stones (7) – Saw less of the ball than usual but was still solid.
- LB: Nathan Ake (8) – Asked to fill in at left back and didn’t put a foot wrong.
- CDM: Rodri (7) – Scrappy in midfield, picking up a yellow card, but grabbed the opener to help his side on their way to three points.
- CM: Ilkay Gundogan (6) – One of his quieter games in a Manchester City shirt, but continued to keep the team ticking.
- CM: Kevin de Bruyne (8) – Far better for Manchester City than he was for Belgium, and should have picked up an assist for an early through ball to Haaland.
- RW: Riyad Mahrez (7) – Didn’t really put a foot wrong and will be unlucky to lose his place for Manchester City’s next game.
- ST: Erling Haaland (8) – Missed two good opportunities in the first half when he fired straight at Meslier, but still came up with two goals to effectively win Manchester City the tie.
- LW: Jack Grealish (5) – Three awful misses in a poor first half for the Englishman, but he redeemed himself somewhat by setting up Erling Haaland to grab Manchester City’s second and effectively put the game to bed.
Substitutes
- Joao Cancelo (6) – Didn’t really put a foot wrong after coming on.
- Phil Foden (5) – Struggled to get into the game after coming on.
- Cole Palmer (N/A) – Came on for the final five minutes.
Key Stats
Erling Haaland scores on Man City’s return to Premier League football.
19 goals in 14 league games this season 🤖 pic.twitter.com/logiTHJWBr
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 28, 2022
19 – Erling Haaland has scored 19 goals in the Premier League (14 apps), overtaking his father, Alfie Haaland (181 apps), for goals scored in the competition. Upstaged. pic.twitter.com/UGa2e7Yrvk
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 28, 2022
Erling Haaland has become the fastest player to score 20 goals in the Premier League, doing so in 14 appearances:
14 – Erling Haaland
21 – Kevin Phillips
23 – Andrew Cole
26 – Ruud van Nistelrooy
26 – Diego Costa
26 – Tony Yeboah[@OptaJoe] pic.twitter.com/SXWPJFggkK
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 28, 2022
Erling Haaland’s game by numbers vs. Leeds United:
82% pass accuracy
27 touches
5 shots on target
2 goals
1 key passRecord Breaker. 👏 pic.twitter.com/qyMjNvHhWs
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 28, 2022
Expert analysis
Mahrez good, Stones good, Rodri good, De Bruyne low-key brilliant, Gundogan started poorly then got better, Ake a bit like Gundogan, Lewis up and down (understandable!), Haaland gotta be sharper (whole game plan is to get him in behind!), Grealish – not his night! Akanji fine
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) December 28, 2022
Outplayed and outclassed by a City team who are nothing other then exceptionally accomplished. Struijk’s header caused a wobble but City saw a lot of chances tonight and it always felt like it was going their way. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) December 28, 2022
Fan Reaction
Whoops. pic.twitter.com/TdjYF1wN8f
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) December 28, 2022
Redemption. 💪😁 @JackGrealish pic.twitter.com/38LKFJaqa0
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 28, 2022
Haaland is having a terrible game and he’s already scored two goals. pic.twitter.com/SzTNNtl9bL
— 𝐕𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐥🌓 (@badvibescartel) December 28, 2022
Haaland has scored more EPL goals than Chelsea this season 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/0lTK7Zir1R
— 𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊 (@TheMahleek) December 28, 2022
Comparing Nunez to Haland is an insult
— Harryson Joseph (@ssempeerajosep4) December 28, 2022
Gundogan is secretly having a worse game than Grealish
— Lee (@LeePowell101) December 28, 2022
