It took Alfie Haaland 181 games spread over a decade to score 18 Premier League goals – his son Erling has overtaken him after 14 appearances for Manchester City, not that his former Leeds defender cares too much.
Leeds had made City struggle for their chances but were rarely able to cope with the champions’ smooth passing and movement. For his second goal, a tired pass from captain Liam Cooper to the unsuspecting Robin Koch was intercepted by boo-boy Jack Grealish, giving him the freedom of the half, he took out the keeper and slid the ball into Haaland to strike in a goal. empty net for his 19th of the campaign. Grealish enjoyed the goal more than Haaland after receiving plenty of grudge at Elland Road throughout the game.
The difference in class was evident from the first minute and was unrelenting for the next 46, culminating in Rodri’s goal with City’s 16th shot in stoppage time. Haaland, who grew up with an Erik Bakke shirt on the wall, and Grealish combined again for a neat one-two to set up City’s 20th of the season for the No.9 as Grealish slotted the ball perfectly back to the Leeds-born forward to find the corner, from the hand of Illan Meslier, to end the game as a game in the 64th minute, although Pascal Struijk headed home a corner to offer vague hope.
In the first 40 seconds, Haaland could have given City the lead when he latched onto Nathan Aké’s overhead pass. The Norwegian saw Meslier, who passed a fitness test, advance and tried to shoot the keeper but the Frenchman’s outstretched hand deflected the ball wide of the goal, allowing a defender to deflect as it rebounded to the six-yard box, leaving Alfie. watching from the stands, to hold on for parity.
City looked brighter in the early stages, helped by a strong welcome to domestic football after the World Cup in their victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup last week. Leeds had not played a competitive game since their 4-3 defeat at Tottenham on November 12 and the pace quickly tired them out, possibly explaining the error that gifted the second.
Eighteen-year-old Rico Lewis, on his Premier League debut, showed what it means to be a full-back in a Pep Guardiola team. Despite celebrating his last birthday during the World Cup, he fully understands the needs and rigors of his role. He would often drift into midfield to pick up the ball, but was also available on the wing to help create chances, such as Kevin De Bruyne’s shot from the edge of the box.
Haaland doubles Manchester City’s lead in their win against Leeds. Photo: Jon Super/AP
Jesse Marsch looked like a man who needed to release some energy after a month and a half of not patrolling the sidelines in anger. Every decision that went against his team was met with gesticulation and a quick step to the touchline.
The only real distraction for Leeds fans was creating chants for Kalvin Phillips, who warmed to chants of “eats what he wants”, “you fat bastard” and “you’re too fat to play for Leeds” after Guardiola described him as “overweight” when he returned from the World Cup.
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It was one of the Leeds tackles that made Grealish the pantomime villain when Struijk stopped his dribble, only for Stuart Attwell to ignore the incident. Grealish received treatment on his broken thigh, although the home fans felt he didn’t deserve it and a hate figure was created.
City fans might have thought about joining the home support in expressing their displeasure at Grealish when he missed his third big chance of the game on the brink of the half-time whistle, but they were able to let him go when Rodri touched down home soon after. The play started with a sublime touch and turn from Ilkay Gündogan on the edge of his own area, followed by a quick pass to De Bruyne down the left. The Belgian took the ball upfield and found Rodri who put it into the path of Riyad Mahrez to take the initial shot which was placed into the path of the Spaniard who sent the ball under his arm of the goalkeeper from six meters.
No-one has an answer to Haaland’s poaching inside the box, not even Marsch, who managed him at RB Salzburg, leaving other managers with a bit of a headache to do for the rest of the season. Only his own sloppiness and Meslier’s saves on the night kept him from getting more, admitting afterwards he could have scored five. He has seven more goals than his nearest rival Harry Kane in the goalscoring charts, an almost bewildering statistic. Haaland was brought to the Premier League to make a difference for City, breaking records as he does. Some will be older than their father, but few will raise a more wry smile than father and son.