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Grealish's goal was only his second in the Premier League since his £100m summer move from Aston Villa, and his first since 21 AugustManchester City tore Leeds apart with an attacking masterclass to increase their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points.
The defending champions were at their scintillating best as they racked up their biggest victory of the season and moved further clear of Liverpool and Chelsea, who both play on Thursday.
In truth, City could have had far more than their seven goals such was their total dominance and the ease they repeatedly ripped through the visitors' increasingly ragged defence.
Phil Foden opened the scoring after eight minutes, following up after Rodri's effort was saved - although Stuart Dallas should have done far better with his attempted goal-line clearance.
Foden's goal was City's 500th in the Premier League in 207 games under Pep Guardiola, with the Spaniard becoming the quickest manager to reach that landmark - the previous best was Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who took 234 matches.
It only took five minutes more before goal number 501 arrived, with Riyad Mahrez given time to bend in a cross from the right of the area for Jack Grealish to nod home a rare - for him - headed goal.
City did not stop coming forward and Kevin de Bruyne joined the party just after the half-hour mark, firing home from a Rodri pass for his first goal since mid-October.
That made sure of a seventh straight league win for Guardiola's men but they were in the mood to dish out more punishment against a side that took four points off them last season, and beat them here with 10 men.
The second half had barely started when Mahrez made it 4-0, with a low shot that deflected in off Junior Firpo, before De Bruyne made it five with the best goal of the night, a thunderous strike into the top corner from distance.
John Stones made it six at the second attempt after Aymeric Laporte's header was saved, and there was no respite for Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier as Nathan Ake headed home City's seventh from a Foden corner.
Leeds' fans were still singing at the final whistle but their defiance was not matched by their injury-hit side, who remain 15th after this demoralising defeat, and on the fringes of a relegation fight.
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De Bruyne back at his best
Guardiola had said before kick-off that his side "knew they had to suffer" against a Leeds side led by his old mentor Bielsa, but this turned into an extremely enjoyable evening for the City boss.
As well as seeing his side sparkle for 90 minutes and score seven goals, there was a welcome return to goalscoring form for De Bruyne and Grealish.
Grealish's header was only his second league goal for City since his £100m summer move, and his first for the club since mid-September.
Illness and injury have meant De Bruyne has been below his best for most of this campaign but he showed his undoubted class here, notably with the unstoppable strike for his second goal.
The Belgian is still to register an assist in the Premier League this season - unusual for such a reliable creative force - but that statistic will surely not bother him much after a performance like this.
City have relied heavily on Bernardo Silva for attacking inspiration in recent weeks while waiting for Grealish to find his feet and when De Bruyne has struggled for full fitness, but this was a night when everyone shone.
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Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number5Player nameStones
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Squad number14Player nameLaporte
Squad number11Player nameZinchenko
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number26Player nameMahrez- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Squad number47Player nameFoden
- Squad number6Player nameAké
Squad number8Player nameGündogan
Squad number25Player nameFernandinho
Leeds United
Squad number1Player nameMeslier
Squad number46Player nameShackleton
Squad number2Player nameAyling
Squad number14Player nameLlorente
Squad number3Player nameFirpo
Squad number15Player nameDallas
Squad number4Player nameForshaw
Squad number10Player nameRaphinha
Squad number11Player nameRoberts
Squad number22Player nameHarrison
Squad number20Player nameJames
Squad number30Player nameGelhardt
Squad number37Player nameDrameh
Squad number43Player nameKlich
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 5Stones
- 3Rúben DiasBooked at 40minsSubstituted forAkéat 65'minutes
- 14Laporte
- 11Zinchenko
- 17De Bruyne
- 16RodriSubstituted forFernandinhoat 56'minutes
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forGündoganat 45'minutes
- 26Mahrez
- 10Grealish
- 47Foden
Substitutes
- 6Aké
- 7Sterling
- 8Gündogan
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 13Steffen
- 25Fernandinho
- 56Egan-Riley
- 80Palmer
- 97Wilson-Esbrand
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Meslier
- 46ShackletonSubstituted forKlichat 38'minutes
- 2Ayling
- 14Llorente
- 3FirpoBooked at 20minsSubstituted forDramehat 73'minutes
- 15Dallas
- 4Forshaw
- 10Raphinha
- 11Roberts
- 22Harrison
- 20JamesSubstituted forGelhardtat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Klaesson
- 30Gelhardt
- 35Cresswell
- 37Drameh
- 38Summerville
- 42Greenwood
- 43Klich
- 45McCarron
- 47Jenkins
Referee:Paul Tierney
Attendance:52,401
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 7, Leeds United 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 7, Leeds United 0.
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt saved. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aymeric Laporte.
Attempt missed. Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jack Harrison.
Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Fernandinho (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mateusz Klich (Leeds United).
Attempt saved. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cody Drameh.
Attempt missed. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Fernandinho.
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Nathan Aké.
Attempt blocked. Phil Foden (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Goal! Manchester City 7, Leeds United 0. Nathan Aké (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Phil Foden with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Diego Llorente.
Goal! Manchester City 6, Leeds United 0. John Stones (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the high centre of the goal following a set piece situation.
Attempt saved. John Stones (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernandinho with a cross.
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