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2021/22 English Premier League
Matchday 35
Leeds United v Manchester City
Elland Road
Leeds, England
Saturday, 30 April 2022
Kick-off is at 18h30
Leeds will be determined to avoid a repeat of their previous result against Manchester City when they host the
Premier League leaders at Elland Road on Saturday, April 30.
The Whites suffered a humiliating 7-0 defeat at the hands of the Citizens in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium on December 14, in what was the beginning of the end for former head coach Marcelo Bielsa.
The West Yorkshire outfit went on to pick up just two wins from their next nine games under Bielsa, who was sacked on February 27 and replaced by Jesse Marsch.
The American started his tenure with back-to-back defeats against Leicester and Aston Villa, but a 3-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road last time out extended their unbeaten run to four outings.
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Marsch was delighted with a first clean sheet at the helm and admitted it was pleasing to see the team kick on after getting the first goal against the Hornets.
"We're still working on a lot of our little things, but certainly to get the three points and to see the confidence of the group was really important," he said.
"We had to defend a lot of set-pieces and Watford were dangerous in those moments, but the lead was important and we then stayed disciplined throughout.
"We haven't turned one-goal leads into two-goal leads enough, so previously we've been stuck in tight matches at the end, so I wanted us to concentrate and get the clean sheet as we haven't done that in a while and it will give our defensive group confidence."
City maintained their one-point lead over Liverpool with a 5-1 hammering of Watford at Eastlands last Saturday to record their 25th win of the season.
The defending champions know they cannot afford to drop any more points in their remaining five matches after allowing the Reds to close up right on their heels in recent weeks.
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Pep Guardiola revealed that Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake had both pushed through the pain barrier to face the Hornets and he hailed the willingness of his players to step up when injuries lead to selection dilemmas.
"When it (injuries) happens in November or December for a long time it is a problem," the Spaniard said. "When you have seven games, potentially eight, to the end of the season ... if Gabriel Jesus (for example) has to play right-back, he will do it. It's not a problem.
"In that moment when the players feel like we are in trouble in several positions, then they do extra. I don't have doubts about that.
"I can trust them. We can trust each other, and they can trust each other. You see the desire from everyone, the players are incredible, they made 40 metres at 5-1 to receive the ball.
"This is the only secret we have for the success of last seasons. A lot of money to buy the top, top players, but also the desire to run for each other."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Leeds - 2
Man City - 1
Draws - 2
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