5 Things We Learned from Manchester City’s 3-2 Win over Leeds United.
- Lewis Walkden
- Dec 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Manchester City edged out a dramatic 3–2 win over Leeds on Saturday, but the performance raised as many concerns as it did relief. City looked sharp and dominant in the first half, taking a deserved 2–0 lead through an early Phil Foden strike followed by a well-taken Josko Gvardiol goal in the 25th minute. However, the second half told a completely different story. Defensive lapses and a loss of control allowed Leeds back into the game, with City conceding twice, including a penalty converted by former academy forward Lukas Nmecha. In the end, it was Phil Foden who rescued City, scoring a 91st-minute winner that salvaged all three points.
1. Never Doubt Phil Foden
Phil Foden once again proved why he is Manchester City’s most reliable big-moment player. In a match where nearly every outfield teammate struggled for rhythm, Foden carried the creative and goalscoring burden almost single-handedly. His early opener set the tone, and his dramatic 91st-minute winner ultimately saved City from a collapse of their own making.
After the game, Foden perfectly summed up the team’s issues, admitting:"It wasn't good enough from start to finish. We spoke to the manager, changed the way we pressed and played. It was crucial to get together and find the solution. It felt like we were all on different wavelengths. Some were pressing, some staying. Even on the ball, we weren't in good positions to receive."
2. Rayan Cherki Has to Be Starting for Manchester City
Rayan Cherki once again showed why he deserves a consistent place in Guardiola’s starting XI. Coming on for Tijjani Reijnders in the 75th minute, he immediately injected some creativity into a City side that had been drifting through the second half. It was Cherki who produced the decisive pass for Phil Foden’s 91st-minute winner.
The numbers strengthen his case even further: Cherki has now registered 9 goal contributions in just 6 starts for Manchester City, an elite-level output for someone still settling into Guardiola’s system. Performances like this make it increasingly difficult to justify leaving him on the bench.
3. Manchester City Must Sharpen Up in Midfield
While Nico González continues to deliver consistently strong performances, the same can’t be said for the rest of City’s midfield unit. Tijjani Reijnders is the clearest example. Earlier in the season, he showed exactly what he can offer, with a standout display against Wolves where he produced a goal and an assist and looked every bit the dynamic midfielder City hoped they were getting.
Since then, however, his influence has noticeably dipped, and the Leeds match highlighted those struggles. Reijnders felt absent for long stretches, unable to link play, or provide the midfield control City desperately needed once Leeds grew into the game.
4. Manchester City’s Inconsistency at the Back Remains a Concern
Defensive inconsistency continues to be one of Manchester City’s biggest issues, and two players reflected that more than anyone against Leeds. Firstly, Matheus Nunes once again showed both sides of his game. At his best, he’s electric and creative on the ball, with him even assisting Joško Gvardiol’s opener. But the flip side is becoming a worrying pattern. His mistake for Leeds’ first goal, nudging the ball straight into the path of Calvert-Lewin, summed up the lapses that continue to cost City.
Then there’s Joško Gvardiol. He took his goal brilliantly and has all the tools to be one of the Premier League’s best defenders, but moments of lost focus still creep into his performances. The penalty he conceded had no justification, especially at a stage of the match where composure was essential.
Neither Nunes nor Gvardiol are long-term problems for Manchester City. Both have tremendous upside and have already shown their quality. But if City are to mount a serious title challenge, building consistency at the back will be absolutely crucial.
5. Manchester City Are Very Much in the Title Race
It may not have been a convincing performance against Leeds, but three points is three points. As of Sunday evening, results elsewhere swung in City’s favour. Arsenal dropped points in a 1-1 draw against a Chelsea side reduced to 10 men after Moisés Caicedo’s 38th-minute red card, a result that tightened things at the top of the table.
City now sit second, closing the gap to Arsenal to five points with 25 on the board. It’s still early in the season, and there’s clearly plenty for Guardiola’s side to improve if they want to return to their dominant best. But one thing is certain: the title race is far from over, and Manchester City are firmly in the fight.
