Foden scores a brace to keep pressure on Arsenal

After two unexpected defeats (Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen), the best thing Manchester City fans could wish for was the Leeds game at home. The visitors are in the red zone and are fighting relegation, they had five defeats from the last six games and Pep Guardiola decided to field his strongest team today. What could possibly go wrong? It nearly did as the Citizens squandered a two goal lead and got themselves on the verge of a draw which could get Arsenal even more in front in the title race. Luckily for them, Phil Foden was the man who started and finished it all today with the goal in the first and 91st minute of the game: Manchester – Leeds 3-2.

It all started well when Foden scored in the first minute of the game. The fans expected a thrashing in the next 89 minutes, and Josko Gvardiol only added more fuel to the fire when the scored the second goal after 25 minutes. But, City’s game started going downhill practically from the very start of the second half. Matheus Nunes pushed them in that direction with yet another in a series of mistakes that have marked his time at the Etihad. Chaos erupted after the Portuguese midfielder played a risky — and more importantly, inaccurate — ball into the middle. And then, just when it seemed that his compatriot Ruben Dias had extinguished the fire, Nunes poured more fuel onto it and ignited it even further. Pep Guardiola’s utility man will have to explain what he intended to do in the 49th minute, with a player on his back, when he decided to send the ball back to Gianluigi Donnarumma in the six-yard box. Had he at least managed to return it properly, he could have justified it somehow, but Nunes’ pass looked more like a set-up ball for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who had no problems using a gift like that.

Leeds grabbed a shock equalizer in the 68th minute when Gvardiol fouled Calvert-Lewin. Although Nmecha's penalty was saved by Donnarumma, the forward recovered to score from the rebound. Chasing his 100th top-flight goal, Haaland was unusually subdued but Foden picked up the slack in stoppage-time, cleverly making room in the area for an ice-cool finish as Guardiola breathed a sigh of relief. Leeds' sixth defeat in their last seven matches increased the pressure on manager Daniel Farke.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 13

Saturday

Brentford - Burnley 3-1 (0-0)

/Thiago 81(p), 86, Quattara 90 - Flemming 85(p)/

Manchester City - Leeds 3-2 (2-0)

/Foden 1, 90+1 Gvardiol 25 - Calvert-Lewin 49, Nmecha 68/

Sunderland - Bournemouth 3-2 (1-2)

/Le Fee 30(p) Traore 46, Brobbley 69 - Adli 7, Adams 15/

20.30: (2.85) Everton (3.40) Newcastle (2.60)

23.00: (2.20) Tottenham (3.40) Fulham (3.30)

Sunday

15.00: (2.40) Crystal Palace (3.50) Manchester Utd. (3.00)

17.05: (1.50) Aston Villa (4.20) Wolverhampton (6.75)

17.05: (2.85) Nottingham Forest (3.35) Brighton (2.65)

17.05: (4.50) West Ham (4.25) Liverpool (1.75)

19.30: (3.35) Chelsea (3.45) Arsenal (2.25)

***odds are subject to change***