Manchester City 3-1 Leicester: Pep Guardiola's side close gap on Foxes with a classy performance

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:

• Premier League review and match-by-match highlights
• Sunday's Premier League tips
• Pundits' London derby predictions
• Alex Keble: Spurs v Chelsea

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

1905: Liverpool update - still 0-0!

1904: Leicester sub

Youri Tielemans off, Denis Praet on. It's been a tough evening for the Foxes.

1857: GOAL! Man City 3-1 Leicester (Jesus)

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.

1854: Mahrez close again...Schmeichel stops...again!

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.

1848: In-play tip

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.

Back it here

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

Click here for the latest in-play odds, Price Boosts and RequestABets

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!

1753: GOAL! Man City 0-1 Leicester (Vardy)

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!

1750: REPLAY: De Bruyne chance

1746: Great double save by Schmeichel

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.

1743: Menacing Mahrez

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.

1740: Ten minutes gone

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.

1730: Here we go!

Peep. Kick-off at the Etihad, let's hope for a cracker. How will City cope with life after Arteta?

1726: They are in the tunnel

Here they come. Kick-off is moments away! A dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup final?

1725: Liverpool v Flamengo

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...

1722: Pre-match stats

• Manchester City have won 249 Premier League games since 1st January 2010 – they could become just the second team in English top-flight history to reach 250 victories in a single decade, after Manchester United in the 2000s (255).
• Leicester have won their last four Premier League away games, by an aggregate score of 17-1. The Foxes have never previously won five consecutive away games in the top-flight.
• Leicester are one of just two teams with a 100% winning record when scoring first this season (along with Liverpool), winning all nine such games so far. Meanwhile, no side has won more games when conceding the first goal than the Foxes (3).
• Man City’s Sergio Agüero has scored five goals in his five home Premier League games against Leicester, despite the Argentine failing to score in three of those matches.
• Leicester’s Jamie Vardy has the most goals in the Premier League this season (16), while Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne has the most assists (9). They’re the top two players for most goal involvements in the competition this season (Vardy 19, De Bruyne 15).
• Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers’ next defeat will be his 50th in the Premier League – only against Manchester United (8) has he lost more games in the competition than he has against Manchester City (4).

1720: Pre-match tips

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

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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