Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table just hours after dropping down to second with a 4-0 win over Leeds United.
City took the lead in Yorkshire inside the opening 15 minutes when Rodri headed in from Phil Foden’s wide free-kick. Set-pieces were again crucial in the second half as Nathan Ake doubled City’s lead when turning in a corner in the opening ten minutes of the second half, before Brazilian Gabriel Jesus added a third when, again, Foden set up the goal. Fernandinho completed the scoring in stoppage time.
While Leeds gave a competitive account of themselves, it was simply not enough to prevent a City side chasing a fourth Premier League crown in the space of five seasons. Defeat for Leeds, a first for six Premier League games, keeps them in 17th on a day where they edged nearer to the relegation zone following Burnley ’s dramatic win away at Watford.
Here are five talking points from Elland Road.
1. Pressure test passed again
With Liverpool winning 1-0 away at in-form Newcastle United this afternoon in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, City went into the game second in the table knowing they had to win at Elland Road to gain back the control, albeit minimal, in what is yet another fierce title race between the two north west powerhouses.
Leeds went into the game unbeaten in five after a rejuvenation since Jesse Marsch succeeded Marcelo Bielsa two months ago and, while City did show their quality and get the job done, it was hardly the walkover they would have liked it to be.
This game would have had enough pressure on it, given the tightness of the title race, but this match was sandwiched in between a Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid, one that ended 4-3 in a gripping first leg encounter at the Etihad Stadium. City and Liverpool keep batting away each test both domestically and in the Champions League, with both sides set to not only play out the title race once again, but could well meet each other in.
2. Foden's move does not stop creative flurry
Foden’s creative spark had a massive impact on the game once again as his in-swinging first half free-kick proved to be crucial as Rodri rose above Kalvin Phllips to nod in City's opener in west Yorkshire. His set-pieces were again the cause of Leeds' downfall after the break as his corner was turned in by Ake following Dias' header. He also got the assist for the third goal to round off an absolutely dazzling performance, playing in Jesus to finish with aplomb just a week after he scored four against Watford.
The England international however, in a game where he provided his fourth Premier League assist of the season, was a role different than what he has had to be in. The 21-year-old started as a central midfielder in a trio with goalscorer Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan in what was just his fourth start of the campaign across all competitions further back, but when he has, it has often led to goals and assists. In four starts as a central midfielder, Foden has scored once and provided five assists.
Given City's quality and their plethora of attacking talent and domination in nigh-on every game they play, adding Foden to midfield allowed Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish all to start. The key of football of course is to score goals and with an ever-rotating, yet ever-brilliant City attack and display, any team on the planet is bound to concede and often multiple times against them regardless of who is leading.
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3. Leeds’ Cooper reliance
Leeds were without captain Liam Cooper in defence and his absence was felt as United suffered a first defeat in six games. Realistically, losing to a City side in strong contention for a Premier League and Champions League double is no particularly bad trait, but any chances of shackling them took a huge blow when Cooper's name was not in the squad list.
Cooper had started and played in the duration of each of Leeds' last three games leading to a 3-0 win at Watford, as well as draws with both Southampton and Crystal Palace. In that, they conceded just once in three games and Leeds' record with and without him this season is rather telling.
When Cooper has played, Leeds have picked up 21 points from 18 games at a rate of 1.17 points per game. Without him, United have earned just 13 points from 16 games at a return of 0.81 points per match. They also averaged 1.28 goals conceded per game when he has played and more than three per game when he has not, an absolutely glaring comparison. With Leeds only a place above the drop for now, they will be crying for Cooper to return immediately to ensure that ever-nearing concerns of relegation do not get too serious.
4. Rodri/Cancelo slip
The game itself could have been incredibly different in the opening minutes had Leeds been more clinical and accurate when being gifted an excellent chance by hosts City. A rare slip for Joao Cancelo led to Leeds forward Rodrigo racing down the left side on a steaming counter attack that filled the Elland Road faithful with surprise optimism.
City's defence and midfield charged back and while Raphinha made a glorious run through the box for Rodrigo to find, the Spaniard simply took too long to attempt the pass and Gundogan was there to cut it out. Had he passed earlier and Brazilian Raphinha scored, the game could well have been a very different affair.
Any team who have taken points or even scored against City or Liverpool this season simply know that if there is chance, or even a glimmer of a chance, you have to take it, because if you do not, you will be punished. Rodri, Ake, Jesus and Fernandinho were today's punishers.
5. Leeds' unbeaten run ends on disastrous day for their survival hopes
Leeds, to their credit, were hardly blown away by their title-chasing visitors. It was just when City had the chances, they showed the quality needed to take them, with set-pieces especially costing Leeds for goals by Rodri and Ake.
The performance itself does not deserve criticism, but what Saturday's results both in and out of Elland Road have highlighted is that Leeds are by no means safe. Burnley's 2-1 win over relegation-destined Watford on Saturday afternoon dropped Leeds down to 17th before they kicked off against City, level on points with Burnley but with a goal difference more than twice as bad.
Now, a three-goal hit to their goal difference only makes that worse and although they are five points clear of 18th placed Everton, the Toffees do have two games in hand. Leeds should be safe, in theory, but they can hardly say that for certain, especially with meetings against London top four duo Arsenal and Chelsea next on the calendar.
