Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Riyad Mahrez penalty wraps up win
Man City 3-1 Aston Villa: The hosts were dominant as goals from Rodri, Gundogan and Mahrez saw the champions close the gap to three points of Arsenal
Manchester City produced a defiant response to the Premier League’s charge sheet as they comfortably beat Aston Villa 3-1 to close to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
Goals by Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez put the result beyond doubt by halftime as City got back on track following last weekend’s loss at Tottenham Hotspur.
With the club facing more than 100 charges relating to alleged financial misconduct the home fans were in belligerent mood at the Etihad Stadium with a series of ironic chants.
Pep Guardiola’s side needed only four minutes to take the lead when Rodri headed in Riyad Mahrez’s corner and they were cruising when Erling Haaland set up Gundogan in the 39th minute.
Villa were left with mission impossible when Mahrez tucked away a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Jacob Ramsey was adjudged to have tripped former Villa player Jack Grealish.
Ollie Watkins scored for the third successive league match to reduce the deficit on the hour mark and Villa also struck the woodwork through substitute Jhon Duran late on but City never looked in any real danger of dropping points.
.Earlier, late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho earned Manchester United a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Leeds. It meant United leap-frogged City into second place, but the Premier League champions then responded.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
63 mins: Erik ten Hag makes a couple of changes for Man Utd now. Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho are taken off with Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho introduced.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
60 mins: The home side win consecutive corners with the second one getting whipped into the box by Jack Harrison. Bruno Fernandes gets to the initial ball and volleys it away but Leeds recover the ball and look for a way back into the box.
Summerville and Gnonto combine to gift the ball to Rutter but his flick into the middle is booted clear.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
57 mins: Leeds make the first move in calling for reinforcements as Georginio Rutter comes on for his debut to replace Patrick Bamford at the top of the pitch.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
54 mins: Leeds have already had four shots since the second half started compared to none from Man Utd. The visitors are struggling to string any sort of attack together.
Bruno Fernandes and Max Wober come together with Wober handing Fernandes off with a palm to the face. The Man Utd midfielder goes to ground and receives a lot of stick from the Leeds fans in the crowd.
He’s fine to play on.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
51 mins: Close! Leeds are knocking on the door. Jack Harrison curls a free kick into the box that Bruno Fernandes nods out as far as Luke Ayling.
He follows up with a shot from the front edge of the box but Luke Shaw manages to deflect it wide of goal!
Leeds’ corner is then dealt with by the visitors.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
48 mins: Save! Luke Shaw loses the ball and Leeds burst quickly up the pitch. The ball comes to Crysencio Summerville who spins towards goal and drills one at David De Gea from the edge of the box.
His effort is on target but the goalkeeper dives across and palms it wide of the goal. The resultant corner is played short and Harry Maguire manages to put off Weston McKennie who guides the cross wide when it comes in.
Second half: Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
Leeds get the game back underway at Elland Road. There hasn’t been any changes in personnel from either team so it’s as you were for the start of the second half.
Man City vs Aston Villa
Coming up at the conclusion of this match between Leeds and Man Utd is the final Premier League game of the day as Manchester City host Aston Villa.
The team news for this one is out in around half an hours time and dedicated coverage starts after the end of the game at Elland Road.
HT Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
How crucial will Illan Meslier’s save be come the end of the match?
All three of Manchester United’s chances have fallen to Bruno Fernandes but he hasn’t been able to take any of them. Will that change in the next 45 minutes?
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