Leeds-born Erling Haaland could do damage against a lacking Leeds United side later today
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
06:00, 29 Nov 2025
Two Leeds lads are in Pep Guardiola's Manchester City squad
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Two Leeds lads are in Pep Guardiola's Manchester City squad(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sao Mateus, Brazil. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Zagreb, Croatia. The talent within Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team come from many different regions of the planet - and two come from Leeds.
One can’t get into the matchday squad and another can’t stop scoring. Well at least up until the last international break. Erling Haaland has not netted in the two games Man City have played since returning from the November pause.
That is not good news for his birth-town team. Leeds United travel to the Etihad on the back of five defeats in six matches - including three in three - and so the Whites could be the perfect punch bag for the Norwegian goals machine.
Ominously for the under-fire Daniel Farke, Haaland has yet to go two Premier League games without scoring so far, with an astonishing return of 14 goals in 12 outings. The Leeds boss knows he is the main danger man, albeit not the only threat.
“We spoke in the meeting room and on the training pitch and we have worked on how to stop him,” said Farke of Haaland. “But it's not just him, it's more like we have to make sure that he doesn't get the passes, the crosses, the through-passes, the finishing passes that he then can finish.
“If we just try to concentrate to take him, one-against-one, out of the game, I would say we have no chance. He's too good for that. We try to make sure that he doesn't get many situations and then we have a chance. But just to concentrate on him won't be enough.”
Haaland was born in West Yorkshire due to his father, Alfie, playing for Leeds during the time of his birth in 2000. He would score a brace against the Whites 22 years later in a 3-1 win for City, another of his dad’s former clubs.
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Erling Haaland scores Manchester City's second goal past Robin Koch of Leeds United(Image: Getty)
He later explained his muted celebrations were due to “respect for Leeds, where I was born”. Farke says that affection will matter little this weekend.
“I've met him a few times on the pitch and is a good guy. He's definitely still got a soft spot for Leeds,” said Farke. “I think it doesn't do anything with him for the weekend because I don't think he won't be highly motivated to score against us. So this won't help.
“He's definitely one of the best strikers in our generation. Erling is still very young. Let's see where he is in his thirties, but without any doubt he is already one of the greatest strikers of our generation.”
The other Leeds-born player among the ranks of Guardiola - who Farke described as “the best manager in the world” - is, of course, Kalvin Phillips. He is unlikely to get onto the pitch against his hometown club having failed to get into a Premier League squad so far this season.
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With Leeds sitting in the relegation zone, Farke has hinted that the January transfer market could be utilised. When asked about a potential fairytale return for Phillips, the German said: “First of all, I'm full of respect for what he's done. I think he has done amazing things with this club and had a fantastic time and that can't get enough praise.
“But I don't want to speak about players who are under contract for other teams. Also like who we could have signed or tried to sign anyhow - I don't want to comment on this. I just concentrate on the players that we have actually signed and that's all I can say.”