Man City 7-0 Leeds: Rampant City smash seven past Leeds to move four clear

Pep Guardiola became the quickest manager to reach 500 Premier League goals as Manchester City thrashed Leeds United 7-0 to go four points clear at the top of the table.
It was a vintage performance from the defending champions, who outclassed the visitors to secure their sixth consecutive league victory with one of their best displays of the season so far.

Phil Foden volleyed in the opener from the edge of the area to bring up Guardiola’s latest milestone with an effort which skipped off Stuart Dallas’ shin on its way into the net as the Leeds man miscued with his attempted goal line clearance.

The Cityzens’ lead was doubled five minutes later when the impressive Jack Grealish rose highest to power a header past Illan Meslier from a teasing Riyad Mahrez delivery, before Kevin De Bruyne whipped a low drive across Meslier to ensure the defending champions went into half-time three goals to the good.

City continued in a similar vein after the break, with Riyad Mahrez adding a fourth to effectively end the contest four minutes after the restart.
There was a slice of good fortunate about the Algerian’s effort from the edge of the area, which deflected off Junior Firpo and wrong footed Meslier on its way into the far corner.

Leeds tried to muster a response, with Dallas cracking the post from the edge of the area, whilst Ruben Dias stuck out a leg to divert Jack Harrison’s curling effort wide of Ederson’s goal, but it did little to half a rampant City attack.

Foden had a second chalked off after a VAR check confirmed he had strayed marginally offside when converting Mahrez’s cross at the near post, but it was a momentary reprieve for Leeds, with De Bruyne firing into the roof of the net from 25-yards to add a fifth in sensational fashion a minute later.

John Stones netted a sixth to ensure the scoreline reflected the level of the home side’s dominance.

Meslier did superbly well to deny Aymeric Laporte’s header and Stones’ follow up, but the Frenchman could do nothing when City’ No.5 lashed in his own rebound from close range and it got worse for the visiting ‘keeper before full-time.

Leeds had struggled to contain the City attack all night long and that fact was further highlighted when substitute Nathan Ake headed in a seventh, drifting away from Diego Llorente to head Foden’s corner over Raphinha to complete a fantastic evening’s work for Guardiola’s men.