- Tom Cayless
Ruthless De Bruyne and City absolutely batter Leeds – Manchester City 7-0 Leeds United Review
A simply spectacular performance from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side seen them run out 7-0 winners against Leeds United at The Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.
Two goals from Kevin De Bruyne and one each from John Stones, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Nathan Ake all inflicted Leeds' biggest ever Premier League defeat as City looked to extend their lead at the top, and hunt down Liverpool's goal difference too.
News emerged before kick-off that Kyle Walker wouldn't be in the squad due to a lack of fitness - Joao Cancelo also missed out because of suspension. The City boss opted to go with this lineup:
City started in what can only be described as scintillating fashion. Despite scoring three in the first half, the best opportunity actually came before Guardiola's side had scored their first. Rodri, who was once again excellent, smartly intercepted Leeds' attempt to play out of the back and passed to Phil Foden who slips through Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian then squares it to Bernardo Silva he fad an open goal to shoot at but somehow scruffed his attempt went wide of the left-post.
The Premier League champions then got their opener after Rodri cleverly beat Leeds' man-marking system allowing for a run-in on goal. Leeds' keeper, Illan Meslier, actually beat City's holding midfielder to the ball but could only deflect it back to Foden who slammed into the goal, even with Stuart Dallas' best effort to clear it off the line.
12 minutes in, the Blues got their second. Riyad Mahrez crossed in a corner, Leeds cleared it but only straight back to the Algerian. A mean-looking delivery, from Mahrez, straight to Jack Grealish's head then followed and the Blues were wheeling off in celebration.
The Cityzens then got a deserved third. Rodri slipped through De Bruyne, with a flared pass, and the 30-year-old finished past Meslier with a left-footed strike to give the host a 3-0 lead heading into the break.
The hosts started the second 45 in the same way they spent the majority of the first - with a goal. Substitute Ilkay Gundoagn managed to pick out Mahrez who was allowed to shoot by left-back and his deflected strike, off Fripo, trickled past a confused Meslier and into the bottom left corner.
63 minutes in, De Bruyne got his second and the goal out of the lot. Gundogan slipped the ball to last season's PFA POTY and unleashed a cannon from 25-yards out that completely ripped the net off - simply unbelievable. He is back.
Just 11 minutes later, City had sixth. Fernandihno, who was substituted on for Rodri, crossed in an inviting ball to Aymeric Laporte but he could only head at the keeper. Meslier flapped the ball back to John Stones who buried the ball past the young Frenchman, albeit on his second attempt.
Shortly after, the hosts had their seventh, yes seven. Foden crossed in a great corner to Nathan Ake, who headed home for his first Premier League goal of the season.
Player Ratings:
Ederson (7) Stones (8) Dias (7) Laporte (7) Zinchenko (6) Rodri (8) De Bruyne (9) Silva (7) Mahrez (8) Foden (8) Grealish (7)
Substitutes: Gundogan (8) Fernandihno (7) Ake (8)
What a performance by Guardiola's side as they win their seventh Premier League game in a row. Completely dominant in everything aspect, it's performances like that that prove City really are the best team in the land and all the world. They were simply brilliant tonight in what was perhaps their best performance of the season.
They now sit four points ahead of second-placed Liverpool, the Reds have a game in hand, and now travel to the North-East as they face bottom-placed Newcastle United in what should be a simple three points for the blues.
Oh and Kevin De Bruyne is back and looked better than ever.
Written by: @TomCayless_
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