'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2020-21 Premier League leaders Manchester City slumped to a shock home defeat to newly-promoted Leeds United at home.
Manchester City began the game on the front foot, dominating possession. Leeds seemed comfortable to allow the hosts time on the ball as they looked to play on the counter.
City spurned an opportunity to take the lead when Ferran Torres failed to direct his header on target. Less than ten minutes later, Leeds took a surprise lead.
A simple long ball over the top found Helder Costa on the left; the Portuguese fed Patrick Bamford inside the area. The striker rolled the ball for Stuart Dallas to smash home.
However, Liam Cooper was sent off for a foul on Gabriel Jesus as the visitors were reduced to ten men. Manchester City poured forward in search of the equaliser, which arrived in the 76th minute when Ferran Torres atoned for his earlier miss by scoring his third league goal of the campaign.
Pep Guardiola's men ramped up the pressure in search of a late winner. But Leeds punished Manchester City for their profligacy when Stuart Dallas scored his second of the night to clinch all three points for the visitors.
Despite the surprise defeat, Manchester City are 14 points clear of second-placed Manchester United, who have two games in hand, though. Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa's side enter the top half of the table with seven games to go.
On that note, let's take a look at five talking points from the game.
#1 Leeds punish profligate Manchester City
Manchester City are not used to being behind for too long. When they found themselves in that situation against Leeds, they threw bodies forward in desperation to get the winning goal, and that ultimately cost them.
Pep Guardiola's men failed to make their early ascendancy count as they fell behind. They sensed an opportunity to up the tempo when Leeds were reduced to ten men
Pep Guardiola's men went behind unexpectedly and immediately upped the tempo in the first half. But they had to wait till the last 15 minutes to restore parity.
Manchester City had chances to score a winner, but their profligacy and overzealousness in attack meant Leeds grabbed their first win over City since 2004.
#2 Leeds' perseverance pays off
Leeds United, since their promotion, have established themselves as one of the most exciting sides in the league.
Most newly-promoted sides opt for a more approach to ensure they stay in the league for another year. However, Marcelo Bielsa's men have defied the norm since their arrival and played toe-to-toe with superior teams.
However, against Manchester City, Leeds adopted a different approach. After soaking up City's pressure, they took an unexpected lead but saw a man sent off just three minutes later.
Bielsa quickly removed Bamford to make way for Struijk to restore the defensive shape before bringing in Koch just after the hour mark.
The visitors did not lose their discipline even after conceding an equaliser. Leeds defended manfully and made only their second shot on target count at the other end as they eked out a memorable win.
#3 Manchester City's squad rotation goes wrong
Manchester City envious squad depth has allowed them to be alive in four different competitions this season.
With an eye on their Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund in midweek, Guardiola rested key players like Ruben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan, a tactic that backfired spectacularly.
Manchester City have one of the deepest squad in Europe; they had an abundance of quality against Leeds, but they failed to get the job done with several first-team regulars on the bench.
In the process, Leeds became the first opposition team to win at the home of Manchester City in the Premier League after playing over 45 minutes with ten men.
#4 VAR drama
Liam Cooper was sent off for Leeds United just before half-time for a late foul on Gabriel Jesus. Referee Andre Marriner originally gave Cooper a yellow card, but after a VAR review, he rescinded the yellow and gave the player his marching orders.
While some would argue that the red card was deserved, at first glance, the foul did not look as bad as VAR made it out to be.
It was a late lunge on Jesus by Cooper, in all fairness, but it was very clear that there was no malicious intent from the Leeds defender. And there seemed to be an exaggerated reaction from the Manchester City striker as well.
The decision to send Cooper off could have attracted more controversy had Leeds lost the game because of their numerical inferiority.
#5 Manchester City have the title race well under control
Manchester City fell to a surprise defeat in the afternoon.
It was their fourth league defeat of the campaign and third at the Etihad. However, with second-placed Manchester United 14 points away, it's hardly any cause for concern for Pep Guardiola and his men.
Manchester City have just six games left to play in the league. Despite playing two games more than United, four more wins will see City wrap up their third league title in four years.
