Christmas came early for Manchester City as they blew away Leeds, inflicting the joint worst defeat in their history.
And as if a 7-0 win was not enough, Pep Guardiola got just about everything on his wish list as all the little storm clouds that surrounded his squad were blown away in a whirlwind of brilliant attacking football..
Not only did the Blues storm to a victory that sees them four points clear of chasing Liverpool, and five of Chelsea, but it also carved a big chunk out of Liverpool's superior goal difference
The Blues were irresistible, unstoppable, a whirlwind of touch, pass, move and score that destroyed Leeds, with goals from Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne (2), Riyad Mahrez, John Stones and Nathan Ake.
That made it the joint worst defeat in the Yorkshire club's history, matching 7-0 cup defeats by Arsenal in 1979 and West Ham in 1966, and an 8-1 league defeat by Stoke in 1934.
Contrary to rumours, Kevin De Bruyne showed he is far from being washed-up with a display of forceful excellence capped by two superb goals.
Jack Grealish found a finish to go with his terrific approach work, and even did so with his head - the first time he has scored with his bonce in 207 Premier League appearances.
It was almost as if he was not only answering the critics who have derided his lack of goals - that was his third of the season - but he was also thumbing his nose at anyone who felt City should have kept the £100million and used it to buy Harry Kane.
His thumping header from Riyad Mahrez’s wicked cross, had the hallmarks of Kane.
Any lingering notion that Rodri is not the man to fill Fernandinho’s boots was also dustbins, the Spain international putting in a performance that was not only as cultured and composed as usual, but was positively electric at times.
And if that little lot was not enough positives for the manager, his team had the points wrapped up by half time, allowing him to give Bernardo Silva and Rodri lengthy respite from the endless round of matches., with Ruben Dias joining them shortly afterwards.
The Blues also made big inroads into the superior goal difference, overhauling Chelsea and tucking in behind Liverpool's total - in a tight title race, this kind of result could make the difference.
Leeds won 2-1 at the Etihad last season, and held the Blues at Elland Road, their brand of high-energy, enterprising football knocking the Blues out of their stride.
There was never a chance of that happening this time. With Phil Foden dropping deep from the false nine role, and drifting wide, dragging defenders every time, there were wide open spaces for the galloping midfield stars, and Grealish.
Foden is also comfortable enough on the ball to take it under pressure, and slip passes to those rampaging teammates coming from deep, and Leeds simply could not cope with it.
Grealish set the tone by driving at the heart of the visitors’ defence almost from kick off and lashing in a shot that keeper Ilan Meslier had to grab at the second attempt.
The Blues dismantled Leeds again, as Marcelo Bielsa disconsolately moved from squatting in his technical area to sitting on a padded stool, no doubt dizzy from City’s head-spinning waves of attack.
One move ripped the guts out of Leeds, and ended with De Bruyne, with a clear sight of goal, choosing to tee up Bernardo Silva, with an even clearer one. He somehow dragged his shot wide of the post.
The head-in-hands moment did not last long as City forged ahead in the eighth minute.
Foden was the architect and also put the final flourish on the move. He took the ball with his back to goal and a simple pass played in Rodri, on the gallop.
Meslier advanced to block his effort and the ball rebounded to Foden at an awkward height. The shot did not seem to have enough on it, but the covering defender Stuart Dallas was deceived by the flight and sliced his clearance, unable to stop it going in.
Four minutes later it was two as Mahrez thrashed a cross towards the six-yard box, and Grealish darted in to thump home.
City were not done, driving forwards at will, and when Rodri slipped a pass to De Bruyne, he roared into the box and hammered it into the far corner with all the surety and style we have come to expect but which has been missing from his game this season.
With the result wrapped up at half time, Guardiola was able to give Bernardo a well-earned rest, in what seemed to be a job-share arrangement with Ilkay Gundogan.
The Germany international made an instant impact, spreading the ball wide to Mahrez.
He stepped inside and aimed a shot at the far corner, which it reached with the help of a deflection off Junior Firpo’s heel.
That triggered another half-planned Guardiola switch, as Fernandinho was given valuable minutes and Rodri - who had been exceptional - trotted off to thunderous applause.
The subs made no difference - Gundogan was inches away from another splendid City goal, and Foden had one disallowed for a marginal offside.
The disappointment of the latter was still subsiding when City won the ball back and De Bruyne - denied an assist by the linesman's flag - poured his frustration into that re-born right boot and thundered a shot past a startled Meslier from 25 yards.
The relentless Blue wave kept on rolling and Ake made it 7-0 with a free header from Foden's corner.
Leeds are not a club who have excited much empathy or sympathy down the years, but the sight of them being trampled mercilessly into the Etihad turf by an unstoppable Blue machine was enough to make even the hardest heart feel a little sorry for them.
