Manchester City

Manchester City

Premier League • England

Player ratings: Man City star puts on masterclass in seven-goal rout; only two Leeds stars show up

Kevin de Bruyne celebrates with Phil Foden

Manchester City moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League table as they routed an injury-hit Leeds United side 7-0 at The Etihad on Tuesday evening.

City went straight onto the front foot against Leeds and opened the scoring inside eight minutes.

The visitors were warned early on as Jack Grealish fired at goalkeeper Illan Meslier from distance and Bernardo Silva missed a gilt-edged chance in front of goal.

Meslier then blocked as Rodri charged through but the ball rebounded to Phil Foden and the England midfielder made no mistake to guide home from outside the box.

City looked dangerous every time they came forward and doubled their lead following a corner in the 13th minute.

Leeds half-cleared the initial cross but Riyad Mahrez curled it back into the area and Grealish headed past Meslier.

City further pressed home their advantage just after the half-hour as Rodri played in De Bruyne and the Belgian charged through the box to thump in a low shot.

The home side made it 4-0 four minutes into the second half as a Mahrez effort deflected in off Junior Firpo. And it was 5-0 midway through the half when De Bruyne unleashed an absolute thunderbolt from 25 yards that gave Meslier co chance.

It was six of the best with 15 minutes to go when Stones had two attempts to beat Meslier before succeeding with his final effort.

City were not done there and substitute Nathan Ake made it 7-0 with a powerful header from a corner.

Man City (4-3-3)

Ederson: Sat back and watched on as City produced an absolute masterclass of attacking football. 6/10

John Stones: Unusually started the game at right-back but looked completely at home. Had a couple of goes at his second-half strike before eventually beating Meslier. 7

Ruben Dias: Picked up a booking just before the break in what was pretty much his only action of the half. Subbed midway through the second, with City in complete command. 7

Aymeric Laporte: Coasted through a game that City dominated from the off. 7

Oleksandr Zinchenko: Constantly looked to get forward and kept Leeds’ star man Raphinha very quiet. 7

De Bruyne puts on a show

Kevin De Bruyne: Did not look particularly sharp early on before putting on a masterclass. Produced two trademark finishes, including a thunderbolt from 25 yards for his second. 9

Rodri: Great slide-rule pass to provide De Bruyne for his first-half strike. Given a rest shortly after half-time. 7

Bernardo Silva: Missed an absolute sitter from 12 yards early on and was forced off at half-time with a knock. 7

Riyad Mahrez: The quietest City player in a dominant opening period but did set up Grealish’s header. Got slightly lucky with his second-half strike which deflected off Firpo. 7

Phil Foden: Cool finish to give City an early lead and was a constant threat to a depleted Leeds defence throughout. 8

Jack Grealish: Bright start, with an early strike forcing Meslier into action but was on hand to head home City’s second from close range. Great engine and fine all-round display. 8

Substitutes:

Ilkay Gundogan (on for Silva, 45): Classy as always when he came on and almost grabbed a sublime goal that just drifted wide. 7

Fernandinho (on for Rodri, 56): Pipe and slippers when he came on as City put on a show. 6

Nathan Ake (on for Dias, 65): Got in on the goalscoring act with a powerful header for City’s seventh. 7

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Leeds (4-2-3-1)

Ilian Meslier: Strange to say when a team concedes seven but the Spaniard didn’t really put a foot wrong and made some fine stops and to avoid double figures. 7/10

Jamie Shackleton: Forced off towards the end of the first half with a worrying-looking injury but was really struggling to cope with Grealish’s direct approach beforehand. 5

Luke Ayling: Produced a great last-ditch challenge to deny Foden adding a fourth for City just before the break. Troubled by City’s movement and runners throughout. 4

Diego Llorente: Was very nervy early on and guilty of giving possession away cheaply. Often caught out of position and exposed without having a regular centre-back alongside him. 4

Junior Firpo: Was constantly on the back foot, although he was unlucky to deflect Mahrez’s strike in. Another hooked by Bielsa for a poor defensive display. Booked. 4

Leeds struggle to get any foothold

Stuart Dallas: Made a mess of chance to clear Foden’s effort off the line for City’s opener. Switched to right-back when Shackleton was forced off. Unlucky to see a second-half curling effort hit the woodwork. 5

Adam Forshaw: Showed some nice touches when in possession, but that was constantly chasing after City’s midfield and rampant attackers. 6

Tyler Roberts: Like most Leeds players, he hardly touched the ball first half before having a fractionally better second. 4

Jack Harrison: Plenty of effort and endeavour against his old club and, along with Meslier, easily Leeds’ best player on a very tough night. 7

Raphinha: Could not get into the game as City’s press proved too much for Leeds. 4

Dan James: Spent the opening period chasing down City defenders and was subsequently hooked at half-time. 4

Substitutes:

Mateusz Klich (on for Shackleton, 38): Got in some decent positions in the City box but touch often let him down. 5

Joe Gelhardt (on for James, 45): Gave Leeds a focal point at least but could hardly get a touch. 5

Cody Drameh (on for Firpo, 73): No way of making an impact on a game that had well and truly gone. 5

Manchester City Kevin de Bruyne

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