Manchester City came from behind to turn up the heat on Leicester with a 3-1 defeat of the Foxes at the Etihad Stadium.
The Premier League champions were stung by a breakaway goal from Jamie Vardy but, with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings, hit back in style to move back within a point of Brendan Rodgers' second-placed side.
Riyad Mahrez, also impressive against his former club, struck a deflected equaliser and Ilkay Gundogan netted a penalty before De Bruyne teed up Gabriel Jesus for the third.
De Bruyne looked back to his best and hit the woodwork as well as forcing two good saves from Kasper Schmeichel before leaving the field with cramp in injury time.
City remain 11 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool - who were not in Premier League action this weekend - but the impressive nature of the victory suggests they will still have a big say in the second half of the season.
Leicester did catch City on the break on occasions but this time the hosts dealt with that threat much better than they did against Manchester United in their previous home game.
For manager Pep Guardiola, it also ended a difficult week on a high after the loss of his assistant coach Mikel Arteta to Arsenal.
Highlights
Reaction
- Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers on Sky Sports:
"In the first half we weren't good at all. It actually shows how well we've done to be where we are. Against that level of opponent it was a good lesson for us. No complaints about the result from me. We were a little more like ourselves in the second half, but it showed there's a long way to go for this group of young players."
- Riyad Mahrez tells Sky Sports:
"It was strange at the beginning but we played very well.
"They scored in our best moment and we made the difference before half-time. In the second half we kept the ball and managed to get a third.
"I don't know if it was my best game for City when the manager starts me, but I always try my best to help the team win."
Opta stats
- Manchester City have won 250 Premier League games in the 2010s, becoming just the second side to win as many as 250 top-flight games over a whole decade (Man Utd 255 in 2000s).
- Leicester conceded 3+ goals in a Premier League game for the first time since February (1-4 vs Crystal Palace). The Foxes hadn’t conceded more than twice in any of their last 28 Premier League games before today.
- Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne became the first player to register double figures for assists before Christmas in a single Premier League campaign since Mesut Özil in 2015-16 (15).
- Since his Premier League debut in March 2012, Man City’s Raheem Sterling has won more penalties than any other player in the competition (17).
- Man City’s Riyad Mahrez became the fifth player to have played for Leicester in the Premier League and then score against the Foxes in the competition, after Julian Joachim, Emile Heskey, Chris Wood and N’Golo Kanté.
- Since his maiden Premier League campaign in 2014-15, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy is the competition’s top or joint-top scorer against both Liverpool (7) and Manchester City (5), while he’s also the second or joint-second highest scorer against Arsenal (9) and Tottenham Hotspur (5).
- Man City’s Riyad Mahrez had 10 shots in this match, the most by a player in a single Premier League game since André Schürrle against Burnley in August 2018 (11). Indeed
- Gabriel Jesus netted his first goal in 12 home games for Manchester City in all competitions, since netting against Schalke in March. Each of his last 14 goals for the club before today had been scored away from the Etihad.
- Riyad Mahrez’s leveller for Manchester City was the 500th Premier League goal scored this season. It’s the earliest date the milestone has been reached in a single campaign in the competition since 2009-10 (19th December).
BLOG: AS IT HAPPENED
1922: FULL-TIME: Manchester City 3-1 Leicester
Mike Dean calls time. The reigning champions get a deserved win as their class showed on the day. Report and reaction to follow. Thanks, as ever, for joining our coverage.
Have a great Christmas!
See also on Sporting Life:
1920: Added time
It is the second of four add minutes, Man City have a two-goal cushion and Pep Guardiola is as animated as ever on the touchline. You love to see it.
1916: Man City seeing the game out
Raheem Sterling gets a good reception as he is replaced by Phil Foden for the closing stages.
1912: Five to go
It is still bubbling over nicely - far better than Everton v Arsenal - but is petering out slightly with Leicester heading for defeat,
1908: REPLAY: City's third
1842: Man City pressing
Mahrez nearly got a second after good work from Sterling on the left, but the Algerian's effort was scuffed and easy for Schmeichel to collect. City have been on top a little more but both sides are still settling back into the second period.
Jonny Evans did well to block Sterling's goal-bound effort and Leicester look the unlikelier of the two to score next at the minute - but you could have said that in the first half before the opening goal!
Mahrez flashes another shot wide. He has had seven shots now in total. The attacks keep coming and De Bruyne rounds Schmeichel with a pass but Jesus cannot get to it!
1833: Second half
We are back underway at the Etihad. Can City see out the win and close the gap on Leicester to a point?
Or can Brendan Rodgers' side get back into it? Stick with us to find out!
1825: Sky Bet Price Boosts
- Riyad Mahrez to score a brace - 9/2
- Both teams to score in the 2nd half - 15/8
- Jamie Vardy to score the fourth goal - 8/1
1823: Stat attack
1818: HALF-TIME - Man City 2-1 Leicester
The champions lead at the interval but Leicester have found openings and can be hopeful of getting back into this one in the second half.
1812: GOAL! Man City 2-1 Leicester (Gundogan)
Schmeichel got a hand to it but Gundogan's effort into the bottom corner was too powerful. City take the lead with half-time just three minutes away.
1811: PENALTY!
Sterling comes in from the left, shows the ball to Pereira before quick feet takes him past the Portuguese full-back, who stuck in a rash leg and takes down Sterling. It goes to VAR but it is no surprise to see Mike Dean's decision stand.
1810: Schmeichel to the rescue
A bouncing ball on the edge of the box does not need a second invitation. De Bruyne puts his laces through it and Schmeichel does well to not only save it but get it away from danger.
1808: Sterling so close
An unbelievable trademark ball over the top finds a free Sterling running into the box but, with his back to goal, his first touch was poor and it got away from him. Interesting contest, the hosts should probably be ahead.
1807: LIVERPOOL UPDATE
Still 0-0 in Qatar.
1805: CLOSE!
Mahrez takes a free-kick from around 20 yards on the right of the box. It looks too tight to shoot but he goes for the far post and it curls just wide. Ten until the break.
1800: GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Leicester (Mahrez)
He did look in the mood for this one and now he has a goal! The Algerian comes inside (obviously) and shoots, with a deflection off Soyuncu taking it past Schmeichel.
He is the 10th best player in the world, according to the recent Ballon d'Or awards!
1758: Vardy goes close again!
City cannot handle him and the forward finds space of the left of the box, his angle is acute but he has sight of goal...and he blasts over!
It was disappointing from a tipping point of view too as we tipped him to have two or more first-half shots on target at 12/1. There's still time...
1756: GOAL REPLAY!
Best bet:
1715: Welcome!
Hello and welcome to Saturday evening's football blog for coverage of Man City v Leicester!
If you joined us from our 3pm blog, thank you and hello again. If you are just joining us, where have you been?!
A busy afternoon of action has seen Everton and Arsenal's new managers watch, in truth, a bore draw. This afternoon, Aston Villa dropped into the bottom three with defeat to relegation rivals Southampton, Miguel Almiron scored his first Newcastle goal (finally!) in a win over Palace and much more - all in our review here. Highlights to follow.
I am George Pitts, keeping you company for the action at the Etihad.
Sit back and enjoy as we keep you across the big game with updates, goal flashes, images, betting advice, stats and much more.
Our tips will follow shortly, but without further ado we will get on with the team news...
Teams news
Sergio Aguero is back on the bench. Gabriel Jesus remains up front but, after month out with a thigh injury, Aguero's return as a substitute is good news for manager Pep Guardiola.
Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez were chosen ahead of Rodri and Phil Foden while Caglar Soyuncu, Touri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes return to the Leicester side.
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
- Arsenal 0-0 Everton
- Aston Villa 1-3 Southampton
- Bournemouth 0-1 Burnley
- Brighton 0-1 Sheffield United
- Newcastle 1-0 Palace
- Norwich 1-2 Wolves
Sunday's Premier League tips
Betting previews, predictions & best bets for Sunday's action, including Tottenham v Chelsea and Watford v Man United.
Alex Keble: Spurs v Chelsea
The timing of this fixture could hardly be better for Tottenham and could hardly be worse for Chelsea. Alex Keble looks into the tactics.
Pundits' London derby predictions
Ahead of Sunday's big game, Soccer Saturday's Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier give us their thoughts on Tottenham v Chelsea.
Odds via Sky Bet and correct at time of publication on 21/12/19
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