Manchester City host Leeds United this weekend in the Premier League and are looking to get back to winning ways.
Last weekend, Manchester City lost 2-1 to Newcastle United to lose ground in the title race, with Arsenal winning the following day against Tottenham Hotspur.
City had the chance to respond to that defeat in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen. But Pep Guardiola’s odd decision to make so many changes really harmed City’s cause.
Fans felt Guardiola showed arrogance with his team selection against Leverkusen, with the Manchester City manager admitting after the game he got it wrong.
It’s Leeds next up for City, and it’s a good chance to get back on track.
And certainly, Guardiola will hope to see the same level of ruthlessness that his side showed in this fixture a few years ago in the Premier League.
When Manchester City thrashed Leeds 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium
Guardiola has overseen many top attacking performances during his time as City manager.
And one of the very best came in 2021 when Leeds rocked up to the Etihad.
City were bang at it from the outset, with Phil Foden latching on to a loose ball after a surge by Rodri.
A Riyad Mahrez cross from the right wing was headed in by Jack Grealish for goal number two.
City then got their third, with Rodri playing a through ball to Kevin De Bruyne, who lashed his effort low and hard to give Ilan Meslier no chance.
Manchester City showed no mercy against Leeds United at the Etihad in 2021
That strike pretty much sealed the game by half-time, but City would only be more devastating in the second-half.
There was an element of fortune about the fourth from Mahrez, with his strike from the edge of the box deflecting and squirming into the far bottom corner.
But there was certainly nothing fortuitous about City’s fifth and De Bruyne’s second, which was an absolute rocket from 20 yards.
The peppering continued with John Stones turning in City’s sixth after his initial shot was saved, and Nathan Ake rounded things off with a header from a Foden corner.
Man City must show Leeds no mercy once again
City have to respond after back-to-back defeats against Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen.
In terms of the title race there really can’t be any more slip ups, with Arsenal looking like a different beast this season.
Leeds sit 18th right now, but have shown they can be competitive this season.
Selected Man City facts vs Leeds
- Man City have won their last four Premier League games against Leeds, scoring 16 goals in the process
- Leeds have lost their last two away league games against Man City, going down 7-0 in 2021 and 2-1 in 2023
- Man City have won 23 of their last 25 Premier League games against promoted sides (D2), with their last such defeat coming at home to Leeds in April 2021
Man City surely cannot be dropping points against Leeds…
But the form guide suggests City cannot be dropping points here, with Leeds having lost five of their last six Premier League games, including the last three in a row.
City were wasteful against Newcastle last weekend and cannot let that happen again on Saturday. Certainly a performance like the one in 2021 would be most welcome.
