Leeds United played with 4-1-4-1 line up.
Manchester City played with 4-3-3 line up.
Both teams pressed aggressively with high tempo and didn’t let the opponent make game easily.
Both teams pressed well but Leeds United had some problems about pressing. When they were pressing in the away third, Bamford and Roberts tried to cover Rodri, Laporte and Ruben at the same time. They became 2 vs 3. And they couldn’t cover because of Alioski’s and Helder- Costa’s positions.
Alioski and Helder-Costa took position too much closer to the opponent’s full backs. And when they closed to the wings, centre had more space to Manchester City. So Robertson and Bamford couldn’t cover the centre because of that.
If Alioski and Helder-Costa took position in the half-spaces, they could cover wings and centre at the same time. Because if the opponent tried to make game from wings, they could close to the centre and help Bamford and Robertson about pressing. And they could take the numerical advantage against Rodri, Laporte and Ruben with 4 vs 3. If Manchester City wanted to make game from wings, they could close to full backs and cover quickly. But they took position wrongly and City could make game more comfortable.
But Leeds United could cover centre midfield 1 by 1 in the set defences.
Manchester City was great about pressing. When they were pressing in the home third, Mahrez covered Philips and didn’t let him take the ball. So Leeds United couldn’t make game because Philips is their regista and to make game, they need him. And many times Leeds United lost the ball in their side and Manchester City could attack dangerously. Also Sterling and Torres covered the opponent’s stoppers.
De Bruyne’s and Foden’s roles were very important. They took position in the half-spaces and when Sterling and Torres were pressing to the opponent’s stoppers, if opponent’s one full back took the ball, De Bruyne or Foden ( which one was closer) covered him.
In this position, Sterling is covering Koch.
When Meslier is trying to pass to Ayling with the long ball, De Bruyne is closing to Ayling and covering him.
Also if the opponent’s stoppers were trying to make game and Sterling or Torres was close to the full backs, Mahrez closed to cover the opponent’s stoppers. This time De Bruyne or Foden closed to Philips and covered him.
In this position, Mahrez is closing to the opponent’s defense line and Philips can find free space.
But Foden is covering Philips and Philips can’t take the ball.
First half Manchester City could take the score and then from the 25th minute, they let the opponent take the ball and pass. They pressed well. Both teams could find great goal chances.
Second half was too unbalanced. Both teams were tired and presse’s effectiveness lowered. So they could find many score chances.
Leeds United could attack organize in the second half but Manchester City couldn’t. They were more tired than Leeds and look at the player positions. It was like Manchester City had 5 forward players and 5 defense players. If one player went to the attack, he couldn’t come back.
Also both sides weren’t good about shot directions. They should have taken shots more centrally.
