Man City 7-0 Leeds: Player ratings, man of the match, heroes & villains as Guardiola’s men amaze again

Manchester City ran riot at the Etihad on Tuesday night. Credit: Getty.

Manchester City put on a spectacular display at the Etihad to beat Leeds United 7-0 on Tuesday night.

Phil Foden got things going after just eight minutes when he netted the game’s opener, before Jack Grealish rose highest in the box soon after to head in Riyad Mahrez’s delicious cross.

City really were at their very brilliant best and dominated all aspects of the game in the first 45, and Kevin De Bruyne netted a well-deserved third in the 32nd minute, although City perhaps could have got more from their first-half exploits.

It was much of the same after the break, with Mahrez getting his name on the scoresheet four minutes after play resumed, before De Bruyne netted a sublime second from long distance.

Foden got the ball rolling after just eight minutes. Credit: Getty.

Two defenders then got in on the action with Nathan Ake and John Stones both popping up at the other with devastating effect.

The heroes

Pep Guardiola: City scored their 500th Premier League goal under the Catalan, when Foden netted the opener. It’s taken Guardiola just 207 games to reach a half century of goals, quicker than any other manager in the division’s history. Previously, Jurgen Klopp held the record, with Liverpool netting 500 in his first 234 games.

Even Guardiola was impressed with City’s performance on Tuesday. Credit: Getty.

Jack Grealish: The England international hasn’t enjoyed the smoothest of transitions to life in Manchester, although his performance on Tuesday was one of his finest to date in a light blue jersey. Grealish looked significantly more confident than during last weekend’s win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. He wandered in from the left at will, flew past opposition players and scored just his second City league goal.
John Stones: City’s No.5 filled in at right -back with Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo out, and he put in a solid showing, although he did have little to deal with from the Leeds attack. But Stones conducted himself brilliantly in an unfamiliar position and his great performance was rewarded with a goal in the second half.

Grealish impressed for City in the 7-0 win. Credit: Getty.

The villains

Kyle Walker: Despite Guardiola saying in his pre-match press conference that City’s only injury concern was Ferran Torres, Walker sat out the game due to being ‘short of full fitness’. It means the full-back has missed the last two City matches.
Adam Forshaw: It’s difficult to pick one player who embodied just how poor Leeds were, but the midfielder was given an impossible task of containing City in the centre of the park. Forshaw was the deepest of the visitors’ midfielders and had to somehow try and stop De Bruyne, Foden and Co. But the lack of support in midfield meant he was pulled everywhere by Guardiola’s men.
City youngsters: Even with a shortage of full-backs, Josh Wilson-Esbrand and CJ Egan-Riley couldn’t get a game for City, much as they didn’t away in Leipzig last week. Guardiola also couldn’t find a spot for the pair despite the Blues being three up at half-time.

Player ratings

Manchester City (4-2-2-2): Ederson 6; Stones 8, Dias 8 (Ake 65; 7), Laporte 7, Zinchenko 8; Rodri 8 (Fernandinho 56; 8), Silva 8 (Gundogan 46; 7); Mahrez 8, Grealish 7; De Bruyne 9, Foden 8.

Leeds United (4-2-3-1): Meslier 4; Shackleton 3 (Klich 38;5), Ayling 4, Llorente 2, Fipro 3 (Drameh 73); Forshaw 4, Dallas 5; Raphina 3, Roberts 5, Harrison 3; James 4 (Gelhardt 46;).

What’s next?

The champions face a trip to St James’ Park on Sunday when they take on Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United. City will also have an extra 48 hours to prepare for the game, with the Magpies in action against Liverpool on Sunday.