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.
"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."
"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."
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!
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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.
Raheem Sterling gets a good reception as he is replaced by Phil Foden for the closing stages.
It is still bubbling over nicely - far better than Everton v Arsenal - but is petering out slightly with Leicester heading for defeat,
Youri Tielemans off, Denis Praet on. It's been a tough evening for the Foxes.
That's been coming. De Bruyne makes a pacy run down the right of the box and squares it to Jesus at the far post who makes no mistake. A long way back for the Foxes now.
Kasper! At full-stretch the Danish shot-stopper got a great, strong hand to Mahrez's clean strike after it was pulled across the box to Mahrez from 18 yards. Great stop!
On Mahrez - 'probably his best game in a Man City shirt', says Jamie Carragher.
Guardiola urges the crowd to up the ante. He wants more.
As Vardy squares it to Barnes on the counter and Ederson does just enough to put him off, the 9/4 price on the visitors to register four or more shots on target catches the eye.
They have had just two so far but the way they are countering could allow for another two on target.
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!
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!
Click here for the latest in-play odds, Price Boosts and RequestABets
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Still 0-0 in Qatar.
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.
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!
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...
Against the run of play, the Foxes take the lead and of course it is Vardy. Minutes after his dangerous attack, Leicester counter and Vardy gets it on the left of the box, finishing brilliantly over Ederson. Game on!
Another wave of attack by City with Mahrez coming inside and showing excellent feet. He is in the six-yard box by the byline, squares it to Jesus who steers it towards goal. Schmeichel reacts brilliantly to get a hand to it.
Leicester clear, City stay on top and Jesus gets another chance but it is straight at the Danish goalkeeper.
Entertaining watch so far - not if you are a Leicester fan. They are playing quite defensive, bizarrely like at Liverpool and Man United and it does not suit them.
Vardy gets a rare chance to go forward and his low cross just misses Harvey Barnes.
The Algerian looks dangerous against his former club. He is involved in a couple of attacks down the right. He most recently tees up De Bruyne on the edge of the box and the Belgian's effort rattles the postl. Just one way traffic so far.
It's still 0-0, but the hosts are starting to find their feet, Raheem Sterling finding space on the left a moment ago but the England forward could not get it out of his feet. A delightful ball from Kevin De Bruyne to split the Foxes defence.
Peep. Kick-off at the Etihad, let's hope for a cracker. How will City cope with life after Arteta?
Here they come. Kick-off is moments away! A dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup final?
Let's not forget the Club World Cup final! We will keep you up to date with the score in that one. Bring it home, Liverpool...
Yours truly was previewing this match this week - here's what we came up with...
The battle for second?
Victory for Leicester here would move them seven clear of Manchester City and the Foxes travel to the Etihad a few days short of a year since their shock 2-1 win there on Boxing Day.
That result came as City lost to Palace and Leicester in the space of a few days to rock their title hopes, while the Foxes were then under the stewardship of Claude Puel.
The Premier League champions go into the game on the back of a brilliant performance at Arsenal and a much changed side booked their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup for the third year in succession on Wednesday.
Leicester, meanwhile, also in the last four of the cup, saw their winning run come to an end with a draw against Norwich last weekend.
Against the top teams so far this year, they came so close but fell short in their away games at Man United and Liverpool and earned a well-deserved draw at Chelsea. While they should give them a good game here, the feeling is City will probably triumph narrowly.
The 2/1 price on a one-goal winning margin was tempting, but the eye-catching price is on Jamie Vardy to have two shots on target in the first half at 12/1 with Sky Bet.
We know all about the 32-year-old and his excellent goalscoring run came to an end last weekend as his header against the Canaries was eventually awarded to Tim Krul.
But his rate of shooting is impressive, registering four or more shots in one match in four of his last five appearances. Given that Leicester will give it a good go and have plenty of chances, and that he will be at the centre of it all against a questionable Man City defence, this price is well worthy of a small stake with no reliance on the final score.
Prediction: Man City 3-2 Leicester (Sky Bet odds: 20/1)
Best bet: Jamie Vardy to have 2+ shots on target in the first half at 12/1
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...
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.
Betting previews, predictions & best bets for Sunday's action, including Tottenham v Chelsea and Watford v Man United.
The timing of this fixture could hardly be better for Tottenham and could hardly be worse for Chelsea. Alex Keble looks into the tactics.
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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