Premier League

Leeds United 1 (Rodrigo 59)

Manchester City 1 (Sterling 17)

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich (Davis 77), Roberts (Rodrigo 56), Alioski (Poveda 45), Costa, Bamford.  Subs not used: Caprile, Llorente, Struijk, Shackleton. 

Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Mendy (Ake 71), Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne, Torres (Bernardo 65), Mahrez (Fernandinho 77), Sterling.  Subs not used: Steffen, Stones, Delap, Palmer.

Booked: Bamford (Leeds), Mendy (Man City)

Referee: Mike Dean

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Leeds United and Manchester City played out a highly entertaining draw at a rain sodden Elland Road.

It was the visitors who made the brightest start, Raheem Sterling did well to work room for a shot from 25 yards, seeing his curling effort go wide.

Man City then nearly broke the deadlock from a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick.  He looked set to cross from the left flank, but caught everyone out by going for goal, with his attempt hitting the post, before bouncing off target for a corner.

Pep Guardiola’s side again threatened when Leeds lost possession close to goal.  First De Bruyne’s strike deflected wide and from the resulting corner Ruben Diaz headed just wide.

Leeds’ first chance came in the 14^th minute.  Luke Ayling delivered a really good cross from the right, with Ezgjan Alioski heading just over.

Two minutes later Leeds had Stuart Dallas to thank for being level.  He superbly blocked a Ferran Torres shot on the line, after Sterling had done really well to work a cut back.

Sterling gave Manchester City the lead in the 17^th minute, he cut into the Leeds box from the left flank, before curling the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal beyond Illan Meslier.

Next Phil Foden went close for the visitors after Sterling drove forwards and teed up the midfielder, but he struck wide.

Some good build up play between Mateusz Klich and Helder Costa led to a chance for Patrick Bamford who struck wide from a narrow angle.

Leeds again threatened when Tyler Roberts played Stuart Dallas in on goal, he tried to lift the ball over Ederson, but couldn’t get the better of the Manchester City goalkeeper. 

Foden again threatened before the break, working room for a shot in the Leeds box, before firing over, whilst in stoppage time Leeds had a great chance to level when Ayling latched onto a mistake from Mendy, but he was denied superbly by Ederson.

Half time: Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City

Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa introduced Ian Poveda at the break for Alioski, with Rodrigo soon following in place of Roberts as he looked to get the Whites back on level terms.

It was Rodrigo who came so close to equalising in the 58^th minute, following a great counter-attack by Leeds, the Spain international did well to work room for a shot, with his deflected strike hitting the crossbar and going over.

From the resulting corner, Leeds did level.  Ederson missed the chance to punch the cross clear and the ball hit Mendy, before falling to the ball fell to the feet of Rodrigo, who couldn’t miss from close range.

Kalvin Phillips saw a strike from 25 yards well saved by Ederson, whilst De Bruyne threatened at the other end, driving forwards, before hitting a low effort wide.

Leeds then hit the woodwork for a second time in the match, Phillips delivered a free kick from the left flank, with Liam Cooper hitting the post with a header. 

Luke Ayling delivered a cross from the right flank which found the head of Rodrigo and only an outstanding save from Ederson, tipping the attempt onto the post, denied Leeds from taking the lead.

At the other end, Man City nearly regained the lead when Sterling broke through on goal, but Meslier made a superb low save at the feet of the England forward, to deny him a shot on goal.

The visitors went close through two of their substitutes with nine minutes remaining, first Fernandinho struck just wide from range, before Bernardo Silva struck over from just inside the Leeds box.

Sterling wasn’t far away from finding the top corner with a strike from the edge of the box and also saw a penalty appeal turned down as both sides continued to look for a winner.

With four minutes of regular time remaining Bamford had a great chance when he was put through, but once again Ederson produced a fantastic save.

Full time: Leeds United 1-1 Manchester City