Manchester City 3 Leeds United 2: City player ratings as City find a away against a plucky opponent | OneFootball

Manchester City 3 (Phil Foden 1′, 90+1, Josko Gvardiol 25′)

Leeds United 2 (Dominic Calvert-Lewin 49′, Lukas Nmecha 68′)

Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City overcame a determined Leeds United outfit to pick up an important 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium today.

Manchester City dominated the first half and goals from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol had seemingly set City on their way in the first half. But the second half was a different story. From the moment Daniel Farke brought on Dominic Calvert-Lewin at halftime the game changed. Calvert-Lewin scored in the 49th minute and his sheer presence unsettled Pep Guardiola’s side. Lukas Nmecha would make it 2-all in the 68th minute and at that point of the match it seemed like Leeds would claim a famous comeback victory.

Phil Foden would save Manchester City’s blushes with a 91st minute winner. City were fortunate to claim all three points today and the City player ratings reflect the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Manchester City’s performance.

City player ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma-6/10: Made one superb penalty save which unfortunately fell back into Lukas Nmecha’s path. He had very little to do in goal but you do wonder if he needs to start claiming the ball rather than punching it from set pieces.

Matheus Nunes-5/10: Nunes set up Manchester City’s opening goal with a sublime assist and was a constant threat going forward in the first half. Unfortunately, it was Nunes’ error that allowed Leeds a way back into the match. He was poor in the second half which undid his great work in the first half.

Ruben Dias-6/10: Not at his best and the presence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin unsettled him and his team.

Josko Gvardiol-5/10: Scored a goal but gave away a second half penalty with a rash challenge. Gvardiol hasn’t been at his best this season and has threatened to make a costly error all season. It came today but Phil Foden saved his blushes.

Nico O’Reilly-6.5/10: He was superb going forward in the first half and did similar in the second. Defensively, not at his best as Leeds did target him.

Nico-6.5/10: In the first half he was brilliant but in the second half he fell away. He needs support in Manchester City’s midfield as today’s match showed.

Bernardo Silva-6/10: Manchester City’s captain toiled away and was good in the first half. But he struggled in the second half as he, and his team, wilted in the face of Leeds’ pressure.

Tijjani Reijnders- 6/10: Like his team, Reijnders was good in the first half and anonymous in the second half. Replaced by Rayan Cherki in the 75th minute as City looked to add more creativity to their play.

Phil Foden-9/10: Won the game for Manchester City. He was Manchester City’s best player over the full 90 minutes and his brace today could prove to be invaluable.

Jeremy Doku- 7.5/10: In the first half Doku was Manchester City’s most dangerous attacking player alongside Phil Foden. Doku faded out of the game in the second half but as City pressed for a winner he never stopped trying to create for his team.

Erling Haaland-5/10: Haaland didn’t look 100% fit but he did have some crucial defensive interventions in the second half. Not his best performance this season by any stretch.

Substitutes

Rayan Cherki-7/10: Set up Phil Foden’s late winner and City look infinitely more dangerous going forward when he is on the pitch.

Omar Marmoush-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.

John Stones-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.