Manchester City silenced Elland Road by playing through the Leeds United press with absolute ease on Wednesday night.
City ran out 3-1 winners to close the gap between them and Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points. Erling Haaland struck twice in the second half after Rodri had put City ahead on the stroke of half-time.
Leeds competed well in the first half up until the goal and then had a promising spell late on when Pascal Struijk headed home a late consolation.
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But City were on a completely different level and they proved that in one passage of play in the 16th minute.
Leeds lost the ball but hunted City down by pressing relentlessly. The home fans are known for creating a special atmosphere and roared their team on to win the ball back.
City were unnerved though and stuck to their principles. The likes of John Stones, Rodri, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji all bravely received the ball and opted to play short instead of going long.
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Kevin De Bruyne dropped deep to set the ball and eventually the ball was back with Stones, who was able to play the ball out wide to youth product Rico Lewis on his first Premier League start.
Not once did City panic, showing just how to play out from the back with a sequence that is a direct result of Pep Guardiola's coaching.
Next up for City is a visit of Everton on New Year's Eve (31 December), where they will be hoping to end 2022 with a win.
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Fans salivated at how City killed the Leeds press like it was the easiest thing in the world.
One wrote: "Pep ball at its finest."
A second said: "Champagne football season is back."
A third commented: "Pep has legit invented this playing from the back thing in the EPL like nothing."
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A fourth opined: "Only Pep's teams can play like this. Unreal."
Topics: Manchester City, Leeds United
Josh Lawless