Advantage City again as Leeds faces fight for survival

LEEDS, England－Pep Guardiola said Manchester City is experienced enough to handle the pressure of the English Premier League title run-in after beating Leeds United 4-0 to move back above Liverpool at the top of the table.

Rodri and Nathan Ake netted the vital goals from set-pieces on a day City needed to match the aggression of the home side before Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho sealed victory late on.

Guardiola's men edged one point ahead of the Reds once more with four games remaining for both sides.

"We have been many times in this position. It's not about the pressure－it's simple," said Guardiola, whose side also pipped Liverpool to the title by a point in 2018/19.

"We have to win all our games to be champions. If we don't, Liverpool will be champions."

The defeat leaves Leeds looking over its shoulder at the relegation zone.

Burnley's dramatic come-from-behind win at Watford pushed Jesse Marsch's men down to 17th. Leeds still had a five-point lead over Everton, but the Toffees had two games in hand ahead of Sunday's visit of Chelsea to Goodison Park.

Leeds also appears to have the tougher run-in, with Arsenal and Chelsea among its final four matches.

"I've never seen supporters who love their club so deeply," said Marsch.

"I feel it on the streets, in the stadium. We're doing everything we can to make sure we can stay in this league. We're in for a fight but we're up for it."

Guardiola clearly had one eye on Wednesday's Champions League semifinal trip to Real Madrid as he made five changes from the side that beat the newly crowned Spanish champion 4-3 in a thrilling first leg last Tuesday.

Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez were among those left on the bench.

Joao Cancelo also returned to the back four after being suspended in midweek, but the Portuguese nearly gifted Leeds the lead inside five minutes.

Cancelo's slip on the halfway line allowed Rodrigo to burst clear, but the Spanish international should have picked out the unmarked Raphinha rather than going for goal himself as his shot was easily blocked.

Leeds players were flying into tackles as they battled for their team's survival, but that aggression was their downfall for the opening goal.

Raheem Sterling was upended on the left wing and, from the resulting freekick, Phil Foden picked out Rodri to head home.

Guardiola can ill afford more defensive injuries with Kyle Walker possibly ruled out for the season and John Stones struggling with a muscle problem.

Aymeric Laporte was involved in a sickening clash of heads with Robin Koch, but both players were controversially allowed to continue after receiving lengthy treatment.

Ake also went off in the second half, but by that point the Dutchman had made arguably his most telling contribution in nearly two seasons as a City player.

Ruben Dias headed Foden's corner across goal and Ake turned home from close range to spark wild celebrations on the City bench.

Jesus then maintained his scoring streak by latching onto Foden's pass to smash home his sixth goal in his last three games.

Fernandinho completed the rout and took City's goal difference to within one of Liverpool's with a sweet strike in stoppage time.

AFP