Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals in a season as Manchester City overcame a stubborn Leeds to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to five points.
Frustrated by a disciplined and determined home side and their own profligacy for much of the first half at Elland Road, City snatched the lead just before the break through Rodri’s follow-up finish and then sped into the distance in a one-sided second half.
Having seen a couple of efforts saved early in the game, Haaland – playing in the city of his birth against the side he supports – did not celebrate his goals but showed little mercy in securing them to bring up his impressive tally in just his 14th game of the campaign.
He could not miss for his first, set up in front of an open goal by the unselfish Jack Grealish, who himself had missed a hat-trick of good opportunities in the first 45 minutes.
Grealish was the provider again for Haaland’s second, which he slotted in from close range following a deflection to give Leeds too much of an deficit to overcome.
In keeping with their display, the home side refused to lie down and got a goal back through Pascal Struijk’s header from a corner.
And they could have set up a grandstand finish had Joe Gelhardt’s poked finish not trickled the wrong side of the post.
City, though, secured the win to move back up to second behind the Gunners and two points better off than third-placed Newcastle, both of whom won on Monday.
The relegation battle is no less intense, with Leeds in 15th place on 15 points and one of 11 teams separated by just eight points.
More to follow.
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Leeds United
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Squad number1Player nameMeslier
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Squad number25Player nameKristensen
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Squad number5Player nameKoch
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Squad number6Player nameCooper
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Squad number21Player nameStruijk
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Squad number42Player nameGreenwood
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Squad number8Player nameRoca
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Squad number4Player nameForshaw
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Squad number19Player nameRodrigo
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Squad number7Player nameAaronson
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Squad number29Player nameGnonto
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Squad number2Player nameAyling
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Squad number14Player nameLlorente
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Squad number18Player nameGyabi
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Squad number30Player nameGelhardt
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Squad number43Player nameKlich
Manchester City
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Squad number7Player nameJoão Cancelo -
Squad number47Player nameFoden -
Squad number80Player namePalmer
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Meslier
- 25KristensenSubstituted forAylingat 65′minutes
- 5Koch
- 6CooperSubstituted forLlorenteat 72′minutes
- 21Struijk
- 42GreenwoodBooked at 85mins
- 8Roca
- 4ForshawSubstituted forKlichat 65′minutesBooked at 70mins
- 19RodrigoSubstituted forGelhardtat 72′minutes
- 7AaronsonSubstituted forGyabiat 83′minutes
- 29GnontoBooked at 71mins
Substitutes
- 2Ayling
- 3Firpo
- 10Summerville
- 11Harrison
- 14Llorente
- 18Gyabi
- 22Robles
- 30Gelhardt
- 43Klich
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 82LewisBooked at 62minsSubstituted forCanceloat 68′minutes
- 5Stones
- 25Akanji
- 6Aké
- 17De Bruyne
- 16RodriBooked at 81mins
- 8Gündogan
- 26MahrezSubstituted forPalmerat 88′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 9Haaland
- 10GrealishSubstituted forFodenat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 4Phillips
- 7Cancelo
- 14Laporte
- 18Ortega
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 21Gómez
- 47Foden
- 80Palmer
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 36,889
Live Text
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Match ends, Leeds United 1, Manchester City 3.
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Second Half ends, Leeds United 1, Manchester City 3.
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Cole Palmer (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Cole Palmer (Manchester City).
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Darko Gyabi (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. João Cancelo (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cole Palmer.
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Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Manuel Akanji.
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Attempt blocked. Darko Gyabi (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Cole Palmer replaces Riyad Mahrez.
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Attempt missed. John Stones (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
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Attempt missed. Rodri (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Robin Koch.
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Sam Greenwood (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Sam Greenwood (Leeds United).
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Foul by Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City).
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Marc Roca (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Leeds United. Darko Gyabi replaces Brenden Aaronson.
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Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner from a direct free kick.
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