Ruthless Man City slam Leeds 7-0

LONDON (AP):

SEVEN GOALS — even without a recognisable striker. A seventh successive victory. Manchester City are looking ruthless in their English Premier League football title defence.

Kevin De Bruyne struck twice, while Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, John Stones and Nathan Ake also got on the scoresheet as the champions overpowered Leeds 7-0 today.

In a tight title race, the flurry of goals moved City within two of Liverpool's goal difference of plus-33.

"We didn't score as many goals this season," manager Pep Guardiola said, "but today was a good run to be close to Liverpool and Chelsea".

City hold a four-point lead over 2020 champions Liverpool, who play Newcastle on Thursday. That is when Chelsea, who are a point further back, host Everton.

The seven-goal defeat equalled the worst losing margin in the history of Leeds. Marcelo Bielsa's team is five points above the relegation zone.

"There is nothing positive to take away from our performance. I can't find anything that can be valued," Bielsa told BT Sport. "As is natural in these cases, it is not the individuals that fail but the organisation.

"There is no justification I can offer," he continued. "The game was exactly how we thought it was going to be. We prepared ourselves to avoid everything that happened and we didn't manage to get anything."

Guardiola had warned that Leeds' high-tempo style would need to be countered and City did this by tearing into the visitors from the outset.

"We lost five points last season playing Leeds," Guardiola said. "We tried to prepare well and maybe the players felt it was a more serious team than people think about. We saw the game against Chelsea (a 3-2 loss for Leeds on Saturday) and they deserved to take a point with the way they fought. Maybe they were a little bit tired."

VILLA REVIVAL

With four wins now in six games as manager, Steven Gerrard is transforming Aston Villa's fortunes.

The former Liverpool captain's latest success was getting the better of the manager he replaced at Villa last month as Dean Smith's new team, Norwich, were beaten 2-0.

Jacob Ramsey played a one-two with Ollie Watkins by the halfway line and ran at the defence before firing the ball past goalkeeper Tim Krul in the 34th minute at Carrow Road.

The second came in the 87th when 18-year-old substitute Carney Chukwuemeka got away down the left and squared for Watkins to tap home.

While Norwich are in last place in the Premier League, Villa moved up to ninth after the resurgence under Gerrard.

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