Man City were not expecting to have almost surrendered two points on Saturday afternoon, especially after going 2-0 up. Leeds United made them sweat and Daniel Farke was the reason for that.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha both scored, cancelling out Phil Foden’s opener and a goal from Josko Gvardiol. Nico O’Reilly got an assist for Gvardiol’s goal, but Lucas Perri was the architect.
Leeds came roaring back in the second half and by the time it was 2-2, it could have gone either way. Such was Leeds’ second-half fight, that Pep Guardiola organised a mini team-talk before Leeds’ second.
Who was your Leeds MOTM against Manchester City?
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Something which Daniel Farke has criticised in his press conference, while Lukas Nmecha says he’s never seen anything like it. It proves City were rattled and that was down to Farke’s tactical nous at half-time.
For weeks, fans have called for Farke to start Willy Gnonto and Dan James. On Saturday, they finally got their wish. The two recently-injured wingers coming in for Noah Okafor and Brenden Aaronson out wide.
Photo by George Wood/Getty ImagesDaniel Farke in I told you so moment, towards Leeds fans
While Gnonto and James may feel hard done by, in that the game they finally returned to the starting line-up was an away outing against Man City, neither impacted the game and were hooked at half-time.
In a rare example of Farke being proactive, he brought Jaka Bijol and Calvert-Lewin on at the break and it was a move that paid off. Switching to a 3-5-2, Leeds were more compact in defence and better in attack.
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If starting James and Gnonto was Farke giving in to fan pressure, then taking them off was a message to the fans who have been begging him to drop Aaronson. In this system, James and Gnonto can struggle.
It is just one example, but Paul Merson recently said James isn’t good enough for the Premier League. On Saturday, taking the duo off was Farke showing fans he’s listening, but showing fans why it doesn’t work.
Phil Foden gives Daniel Farke credit for his half-time switch🗣️
“It’s up there as one of the wildest games. We had full control in the first half. They changed their system in the second half and we couldn’t get going.”
Phil Foden after Leeds’ 3-2 loss to Man City
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Farke has a few selection headaches when Chelsea come to Yorkshire on Wednesday night. Even Lucas Perri will be under threat, as he failed to deal with a corner and it allowed Josko Gvardiol to score for City.
But Karl Darlow was missing on Saturday. Then, there is the formation. Does Farke try a three-man back line from the off? Does Jaka Bijol come in for only his fourth start in the Premier League since his arrival?
In midfield, Anton Stach is back in contention after observing concussion protocol, but Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev were excellent having come in for Stach and Sean Longstaff. They deserve to be kept in the side.
James Justin did a job on the left, and Farke says Justin is fine after coming off on 69 minutes despite “a little hit”. Gnonto and James might not expect to start after being taken off, and who goes up front?
Massive decisions for Farke to get right, with the majority of the squad feeling they probably have a good case to start on Wednesday night. The only certainties? Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Lukas Nmecha.
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