Leeds v Manchester City player ratings: Raphinha 6, Firpo 3; Foden 9, Grealish 8

Premier League champions reclaim top spot with a 4-0 win at Elland Road

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  LEEDS UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Illan Meslier – 4. While there wasn’t a lot he could do for some of the goals, the goalkeeper will be disappointed to have conceded so many – Fernandinho’s goal will be particularly frustrating for him. Reuters

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  Stuart Dallas – 5. Conceded the free-kick that resulted in the opening goal and put in a committed display. He was eventually forced off injured before half time after going in late on Jack Grealish. PA

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  Luke Ayling – 5. Put in a threatening cross that was headed away well by Joao Cancelo and showed plenty of resolve. He had some sloppy moments, notably conceding possession on the edge of this own box. Getty

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  Robin Koch – 5. After being dropped to centre-back to cover for Liam Cooper after his injury, Koch had a clash of heads with Aymeric Laporte. He made an outstanding block to deny Sterling but showed no awareness for the opener. AP

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  Pascal Struijk – 4. Made some brilliant interventions to deny Nathan Ake and Raheem Sterling, but was too deep for the opener and was easily outdone for Ake’s goal. AFP

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  Junior Firpo – 3. Booked for grabbing hold of Foden just seven minutes in and things didn’t get much better for him defensively as he struggled against Sterling. Showed a lack of quality in his final product, striking a decent chance over the crossbar. AP

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  Raphinha – 6. Delivered a brilliant cross that was headed away by Laporte, but struggled with his final ball at times. Moved to right-wing-back when Dallas went off injured and fought well. Made an impressive burst forward before seeing his shot blocked. AFP

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  Mateusz Klich – 6. Came into the side due to Cooper sustaining an injury in the warmup and worked hard throughout while also showing some moments of quality. Played a good pass to Joe Gelhardt for his chance. Getty

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  Kalvin Phillips – 5. Made some impressive challenges and showed good work rate in the middle, but was beaten in the air by Rodri for the opener and played a poor pass to Sterling that was almost punished. PA

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  Jack Harrison – 5. Anonymous in the first half before being moved to left-wing-back. He had a couple of bright runs and tried his best to help out defensively. Getty

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  Rodrigo – 4. Wasted the chance after Cancelo slipped early on and spent a lot of the game isolated. He worked hard throughout. AFP

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  SUBS: Dan James (Dallas, 45’+7) – 6. Hit Ake with a late tackle moments after coming on and showed plenty of commitment. Was unlucky to have his shot cleared off the line. EPA

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  Joe Gelhardt (Firpo, 62’) – 6. Battled hard from the moment he came on and was unlucky to see a good effort saved well by Ederson. Reuters

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  Sam Greenwood (Rodrigo, 83’) N/R. The game was already gone by the time he came onto the pitch. AFP

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  MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson – 7. Rushed out impressively to deny a potential ball through and then did well to deny Gelhardt to keep a clean sheet. AP

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  Joao Cancelo – 6. Let off after his early slip but recovered to have some impressive moments, such as clearing Ayling’s cross and hitting a pass to Gabriel Jesus. However, there were also sloppy moments such as playing a poor pass that was cut out by Raphinha. Was booked for a late tackle on Rodrigo. Reuters

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  Ruben Dias – 8. Stayed composed in tough situations to defend well and popped up with a good knockdown for Ake’s goal. Reuters

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  Aymeric Laporte – 7. Made a brave header to deny Koch. Took a few more knocks but continued and made a brilliant block to deny Raphinha after the Brazilian had run through. AFP

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  Nathan Ake – 8. Made some outstanding defensive headers and did well to stop Raphinha when the Brazilian tried to go outside him, then finished clinically to score City’s second. EPA

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  Rodri – 7. Scored the opener with a precise header and headed away a cushioned shot. The Spaniard also moved the ball well and broke up play at times. EPA

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  Ilkay Gundogan – 8. Did brilliantly to get back and cover Cancelo after the defender slipped and made a great header to stop a cross to Klich in an impressive defensive display. Also showed intelligence in his attacking play, though he had one shot blocked and headed marginally wide. AP

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  Raheem Sterling – 8. Won the free-kick for the opener and remained direct all game to make it a horrible game for any defender he came up against, particularly Firpo. Reuters

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  Phil Foden – 9. The quality of his set-piece deliveries resulted in City’s first two goals and an incisive pass created the opportunity for Jesus to score the third. This match was an example of how telling he can be. Getty

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  Jack Grealish – 8. Booked in the 14th minute for a sliding tackle on Dallas and was initially frustrated by the referee and the attention he was getting. However, he continued playing and put in an impressive performance, while a cross should have been met by somebody in the box. Reuters

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  Gabriel Jesus – 8. Worked well for the team and provided plenty of good linkup play before coolly taking a well-deserved goal. Reuters

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  SUBS: Oleksandr Zinchenko (Ake, 60’) – 6. Filled in well to help City see out the clean sheet, though he hit a shot comfortably over the crossbar. Reuters

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  Bernardo Silva (Foden 80’) – N/R. Progressed the ball well and ensured the levels remained high until the end. Getty

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  Fernandinho (Rodri, 83’) – N/R. Scored with a first-time strike in the final moments to make it 4-0. Reuters

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League standings after a rampant 4-0 victory at Leeds United on Saturday.

Liverpool had regained top spot earlier in the day with a 1-0 win at Newcastle United, putting pressure on the champions to respond against a Leeds side battling to avoid relegation this season.

An early goal settled City's nerves, with Spanish midfielder Rodri glancing a header into the net to give the visitors the lead with 13 minutes on the clock.

Leeds kept the pressure on, with a raucous Elland Road crowd doing everything in their power to make life difficult for City, but Nathan Ake's goal in the 54th minute effectively ended any hope the home fans had of getting anything from the match.

With Leeds committing bodies forward, City put the game to bed 12 minutes from time, with Gabriel Jesus continuing his fine form in front of goal with a third, before Fernandinho put the icing on the cake with a stoppage-time fourth.

City's fourth win in a row in all competitions sent them top on 83 points from 34 matches played, one clear of Liverpool, while Leeds dropped to 17th, five points above the relegation zone, but having played two more games than Everton in 18th.

Assessing the performances from Elland Road, Danny Lewis has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.