Man City put Arsenal on discover in Prem race as Grealish lastly steps up, Leeds lack chew

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LEEDS, England -- Erling Haaland grew to become the primary participant to attain 20 Premier League targets in a season earlier than January by hitting two in opposition to his hometown staff Leeds on Wednesday as Manchester City received 3-1 at Elland Street.

With league leaders Arsenal beating West Ham on Monday, it was essential that City maintained the strain on Mikel Arteta's Gunners with a win in opposition to Jesse Marsch's Leeds.

Rodri's opener and Haaland's double have been sufficient to seal the three factors earlier than Pascal Struijk headed in a late comfort aim for Leeds.

JUMP TO: Participant rankings | Greatest/worst performers | Highlights & notable moments | Submit-game quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures

Fast response

1. Man City put Arsenal on discover for title race

Manchester City made a profitable begin to their post-World Cup Premier League marketing campaign and despatched a transparent warning to league-leaders Arsenal that the Residents are able to mount a surge for the title within the second half of the season.

Having suffered a 2-1 defeat at house to Brentford of their remaining recreation earlier than the shutdown for Qatar 2022, City had fallen 5 factors behind the Gunners in second place on the Premier League desk.

However with Pep Guardiola's staff making an attempt to turn into solely the fifth membership in English soccer historical past to win three successive titles -- Huddersfield, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United (twice) are the one golf equipment to take action -- City responded to Arsenal's 3-1 win in opposition to West Ham two days in the past by beating Leeds comfortably.

With City nonetheless to play Arsenal twice within the Premier League, the chances appear to be in City's favour as a consequence of their larger expertise and depth.

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The win at Leeds underlined City's title-winning pedigree with Guardiola's gamers patiently ready for the breakthrough after failing to take a sequence of first-half probabilities. Rodri's aim in first-half stoppage time was the important thing second earlier than Erling Haaland struck twice within the second-half to make the sport protected earlier than Pascal Struijk replied for Leeds.

City have been down the title path on so many events lately that they know what it takes to go the space. Arsenal, with out a title since 2004, are in unknown territory with Arteta and his gamers all striving to win their first title.

However with City profitable so comfortably in opposition to Leeds, Arsenal can have bought the message that they need to overcome a formidable rival to finish their lengthy wait to be champions once more.

2. Grealish frustrates for City, however persistence pays off

Jack Grealish registered his first assists of the season in all competitions for Manchester City when he teed up Erling Haaland for the staff's second and third targets at Elland Street, they usually have been constructive moments that the 27-year-old earned the laborious means.

Grealish, nonetheless the most costly English participant of all-time following his £100 million switch from Aston Villa in 2021, has struggled for consistency throughout his time on the Etihad, and his first-half in opposition to Leeds encapsulated his City profession up to now.

The England winger was on the coronary heart of every part, good and unhealthy, as City pushed ahead in quest of a gap aim and he missed three clear probabilities to attain within the opening 45 minutes.

There have been additionally over-delayed passes, runs by teammates that he failed to identify and a sequence of challenges by Leeds defenders which commonly crossed the road.

Few gamers win as many free-kicks as Grealish, and that's as a result of he attracts so many fouls from opponents -- however it may be a troublesome existence to be focused so typically, particularly when referees let so lots of the tackles go unpunished, as Stuart Attwell did on this recreation.

By the point he re-appeared for the second-half, Grealish might have been forgiven for dropping his urge for food for the ball, however he persevered and was rewarded along with his two assists for Haaland.

Pep Guardiola will argue that Grealish must do extra and do it persistently, however no one can query the participant's willpower.

3. Aaronson given an inconceivable process for Leeds

Brenden Aaronson should have groaned inside when Leeds supervisor Jesse Marsch requested him to play in a false 9 position in opposition to Manchester City.

The USA midfielder is not any striker -- bodily he simply would not match as much as City defenders John Stones and Manuel Akanji -- and his finest position is attacking from midfield or from the suitable wing.

However with Leeds hit by accidents and main ahead Patrick Bamford nonetheless not match, Aaronson was given the inconceivable job of attempting to make life tough for City and, on the identical time, even try to get on the scoresheet.

Aaronson would not lack for effort, however he seemed fully out of his depth in a task that he was clearly unfamiliar with and when an opportunity did come his means, he blazed it over the crossbar.

Nonetheless, the previous FC Salzburg ahead cannot be blamed for his staff's lack of innovative in opposition to the champions. He simply did not have the instruments to offer City any issues.

Italy worldwide Wilfried Gnonto was Leeds' largest menace along with his trickery and tempo down the left, however with out a goal man to intention for, Gnonto's work got here to nothing.

Participant rankings

Leeds United: Illan Meslier 6; Rasmus Kristensen 6, Robin Koch 6, Liam Cooper 6, Pascal Struijk 5; Sam Greenwood 6, Marc Roca 5, Adam Forshaw 6; Rodrigo 5, Brenden Aaronson 5; Wilfried Gnonto 7.

Subs: Luke Ayling 6, Mateusz Klich 6, Joe Gelhardt 6, Diego Llorente 6, Darko Gyabi 6.

Manchester City: Ederson 6; Rico Lewis 7, John Stones 7, Manuel Akanji 6, Nathan Ake 7; Ilkay Gundogan 7, Rodri 7; Riyad Mahrez 7, Kevin De Bruyne 6, Jack Grealish 8; Erling Haaland 7.

Subs: Joao Cancelo 6, Phil Foden 6, Cole Palmer 6

Greatest and worst performers

BEST: Jack Grealish, Man City

It would not all the time occur for Grealish, however his perseverance paid off at Elland Street with a match-winning second-half efficiency.

WORST: Pascal Struijk, Leeds United

Scored a late aim for Leeds, however the full-back was at centre of each calamitous scenario that his defence skilled -- and there have been loads of them!

Highlights and notable moments

After a comparatively tight first 45 minutes wherein all sides did not put away probabilities, Leeds United appeared to be headed for the break with an opportunity in opposition to a staff 12 locations greater on the Premier League desk.

However then Rodri went forward and scored simply earlier than the halftime whistle was as a consequence of sound.

After the break, Man City picked up the place they left off, with Jack Grealish capitalising on a mistake on the Leeds' again to reward Erling Haaland a tap-in on aim.

Down 2-0, Leeds appeared to be out of it, a lot to the dismay of supervisor Jesse Marsch.

Haaland then scored his second, to place Man City up 3-0, however Leeds did not surrender.

Pascal Struijk pulled one again for the house aspect within the 73rd minute off a nook kick. Sadly for the house aspect, it was too little, too late.

After the match: What the gamers and managers mentioned

Erling Haaland on his response when he misses an opportunity to attain: "To be honest, I get really pissed. That's the truth. But when I miss, I want to score even more. That's the funny thing -- when I score one, it's such a good feeling I want to score another goal."

Haaland on Man City adapting to his model of play reasonably than the opposite means round and being built-in into the staff: "It's a fantastic first half-year to work with Pep and work with such amazing players, and not only the coaching staff and the players but the medical staff has been working so good for me to fix my body. I've been having some small problems but now it's getting much better and it's been a pleasure honestly to work with these guys and improve my game because I'm still young and that's something I want to do -- I want to improve and I want to become better. Of course everyone has opinions on how you can fit into this team or that, but what can I do? I cannot not do anything about that. I just have to do my thing, basically."

Key stats (supplied by ESPN Stats & Info)

  • Erling Haaland is the primary participant in Premier League historical past with 20 targets earlier than January. He is additionally the quickest, by appearances (14), to attain 20 Premier League targets.

  • Rodri scored his first aim in all competitions for Man City this season. He hadn't scored since Could 22 in opposition to Aston Villa.

Up subsequent

Leeds United: The Peacocks have a fast turnaround for a New Yr's Eve face-off at Newcastle at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 31.

Manchester City: The Residents even have a fast turnaround for a New Yr's Eve date, internet hosting Everton at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 31.




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