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Leeds v Man City: Key stats and talking points

Title-chasing Manchester City have a difficult match at Leeds as they hunt for a win to put the pressure back on rivals Arsenal. BBC Sport looks at the key themes going into the game at Elland Road.

Manchester City's title credentials face the sternest of tests as they take on one of the trickiest trips in the Premier League - Elland Road under the lights.

Pep Guardiola's advice to his City players after securing a hard-fought win over Newcastle last Saturday was to unwind with caipirinha and daiquiri cocktails and "enjoy life".

However, any relaxation they felt on their days off will be quickly shaken out of them the moment they step out to a wall of noise on Saturday.

As one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the Premier League, Leeds fans make Elland Road as intimidating as possible for opposition players, particularly at night.

They have not lost any of their past 25 league or play-off matches at home that kicked off after 5pm for nearly three years, since a 6-1 defeat by Liverpool in April 2023.

[BBC]

Their home record this season has seen them lose just three of 13 league games, with two of those against the other sides making up the top three with City in Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Daniel Farke's side are on a run of just two defeats in 14 league games, but eight of those have ended in draws. The Leeds boss will be keen to turn one point into three given how fierce the relegation battle is set to be. They are currently six points clear of the bottom three with 11 games to go.

It has taken Farke's side 11 fewer games to match their points tally from their last Premier League season of 31, which resulted in relegation. Getting over the magical 40-point mark looks set to be the minimum requirement to survive this time round.

One omen for Leeds fans: Manchester City have only conceded two or more goals in three of their past 52 Premier League games against newly promoted teams - however, two were against Leeds (Leeds won 2-1 in April 2021, City won 3-2 in November 2025), while the other was against Farke's Norwich in September 2019 (City lost 3-2).

City looking to put pressure back on Arsenal

Manchester City can at least draw on the fact they have won their past two matches at Elland Road. They last secured a trio of victories there on their opening three visits between 1924 and 1928.

With this game coming a day before leaders Arsenal play Chelsea at home, Guardiola's side know they can ramp up the pressure on the Gunners with a win, something they have been good at doing of late.

Their only defeat in their past 14 Premier League games when playing the day before Arsenal (W10, D3) was a 2-1 loss at Newcastle earlier this season.

City's talisman Erling Haaland speaks affectionally about Leeds, but showed the city of his birth zero mercy on his only previous visit there with a brace. He could become the first visiting player to score two or more goals in consecutive Premier League matches at Elland Road.

Graphic showing a comparison between Manchester City and Arsenal's record in their final 11 league games of the past three seasons
[BBC]

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