Manchester City ripped apart Leeds United with an attacking masterclass to extend their Premier League lead to four points.
The defending champions were at their best as they recorded their biggest win of the season and extended their lead over Liverpool and Chelsea, both of whom play on Thursday.
City’s absolute dominance and ease with which they ripped through the visitors’ increasingly weary defense could have resulted in considerably more than their seven goals.
After Rodri’s strike was saved, Phil Foden scored the scoring after eight minutes, although Stuart Dallas’ attempted goal-line clearing could have been significantly better.
It took only five minutes for goal number 501 to arrive, with Riyad Mahrez being given time to curve in a cross from the right side of the area for Jack Grealish to nod in a rare headed goal for him.
City continued to press forward, and Kevin de Bruyne joined the fray soon after the half-hour mark, converting a Rodri ball for his first goal since mid-October.
Guardiola’s team had won seven straight league games, but they were hungry for further revenge against a team who had taken four points from them last season and had beaten them with ten men here.
Mahrez made it 4-0 with a low shot that deflected in off Junior Firpo just seconds into the second half, before De Bruyne made it five with the best goal of the night, a powerful strike into the top corner from distance.
After Aymeric Laporte’s header was saved, John Stones made it six at the second attempt, and there was no respite for Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier as Nathan Ake headed in City’s seventh from a Foden corner.
- Possession
- Home 64%
- Away 36%
- Shots
- Home 31
- Away 6
- Shots on Target
- Home 15
- Away 3
- Corners
- Home 6
- Away 2
- Fouls
- Home 5
- Away 9