Player Ratings: Leeds United 1-3 Manchester City (Premier League)

Manchester City returned to Premier League action with a win over Leeds United at Elland Road.

City started the day eight points adrift of league leaders Arsenal with a game in hand, however victory in Yorkshire closed the gap to just five points with the two sides still yet to play each other this season.

Rodri opened the scoring just before the break with a tap in from just inside the box.

City came out firing in the second half though as Jack Grealish intercepted the ball cleverley before darting through and teeing up that man again, Erling Haaland, to double City’s lead.

Just 13 minutes later, the pair linked up again as Haaland played a one-two with Grealish before slotting home his 20th league goal of the campaign.

Pascal Struijk scored a consolation goal for the home side, but all was too late.

Here’s how we rated the players in today’s 3-1 win…

Back to winning ways in the #PL for #ManCity! ✅🔵 pic.twitter.com/wb1Z5iGk7o

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 28, 2022

Ederson – 6

Not too much to do for the Brazillian tonight although he didn’t deal amazingly with the action he did have. A couple of rash clearances in the first half were luckily dealt with but an okay performance on the whole.

Rico Lewis – 7.5

Very impressive from the 18-year-old right back once again. Some great runs down the right hand side provided good chances, namely the one he put on a plate for Grealish.

Manuel Akanji – 7

Slick as usual. Never looked troubled throughout the whole game and played out from the back well.

John Stones – 6

A decent performance too but struggled slightly more than Akanji when dealing with some danger that Leeds caused, probably should’ve scored when it fell to him inside the six yard box following a corner too.

Nathan Ake – 7

Did very well considering he was playing slightly out of position, constantly provided an option for Grealish on the left hand side and defended well.

Rodri – 8

Solid as always, did his job to perfection before putting City 1-0 up and kickstarted a comfortable win.

Ilkay Gundogan – 6

Slightly below his usual standards with a couple of missed chances. He did link up play well though.

Kevin De Bruyne – 7

Picking out almost every pass and more, as expected – somehow without an assist but still brilliant never-the-less.

Riyad Mahrez – 6

Started the game well but couldn’t quite get the goal or assist he was looking for. Linked up with Lewis reasonably well but could’ve been slightly more direct.

Jack Grealish – 7

A very frustrating first half performance was undoubtedly resurrected by a brilliant second half display with the Englishman registering two assists.

Erling Haaland – 8

Record breaker. 20 goals in just 14 Premier League games while scoring twice tonight says it all.

Substitutes:

Joao Cancelo – 6

Helped see out the win and didn’t have too much to do other than that.

Phil Foden – 6

Arguably could’ve got more involved and lost Struijk on the goal he scored, but came on when the game was all but dealt with.

Cole Palmer – N/A