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Manchester City moved back to the Premier League summit with a deserved 4-0 victory at relegation-threatened Leeds United.
Pep Guardiola’s champions were made to battle in what proved to be a tough encounter, but eventually responded to Liverpool’s 1-0 success at Newcastle earlier in the day with a convincing win that moves them a point clear with just four league games to play.
City survived an early scare when Rodrigo failed to make the most of a Joao Cancelo slip that almost sent the Leeds man clear.
The visitors reacted to the let off in the best way possible when Rodri headed in Phil Foden’s left-wing free kick to net his fifth league goal of the season on 13 minutes.
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Leeds refused to be unnerved and their tenacity and high energy pressing made life uncomfortable for the visitors without truly troubling Ederson in the visiting goal.
Leeds had seen captain Liam Cooper forced out of their line-up following an injury in the warm up and they suffered another blow on the stroke of half time when Stuart Dallas was stretchered off.
City had not had it all their own way but grabbed the insurance of a second goal on 54 minutes when Nathan Ake swept home Ruben Dias’ header from Foden’s right-wing corner.
The champions took firm control from there and Gabriel Jesus rifled in Foden’s pass 12 minutes from time to seal victory, before substitute Fernandinho added a fourth in injury-time with a low strike from the edge of the box.
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The defeat leaves Jesse Marsch’s side down in 17th spot and five points clear of Everton in the final relegation berth, albeit having played two games more.
City will now head to Spain for Wednesday’s Champions League semi final second leg at Real Madrid. Leeds return to action at Arsenal next Sunday.
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