Vardy’s flicked finished put Leicester ahead at the Etihad Stadium (Catherine Ivill/PA) Yet it was the Foxes who grabbed the initiative from another flowing counter-attack. Vardy made no mistake as he rifled home to make it 1-1 at half-time.Ĭity started the second half brightly as Mahrez flashed a long-range shot wide and Guardiola decided to change the attacking shape by sending on 17-year-old striker Liam Delap, a debut goalscorer in the Carabao Cup in midweek. Kyle Walker was caught out by the pace of Vardy and referee Michael Oliver had no hesitation in pointing to the spot as he hauled the striker down. Riyad Mahrez’s thunderous opener gave Manchester City the lead (Laurence Griffiths/PA)Ĭity were made to pay for their failure to make possession count as Leicester burst into life with a rare break in the 37th minute. Rodri did find the net from a repeat opportunity but his header was ruled out for offside. Yet for all their possession, City failed to create the clear-cut chances their dominance would normally yield.ĭe Bruyne did clip a fine free-kick into the area but Fernandinho’s header was straight at Kasper Schmeichel. James Justin failed to clear a De Bruyne corner and Mahrez rushed in to smash an unstoppable rising shot into the top corner.Ĭity will wonder how they did not add to that lead as Leicester struggled to get the ball off them. They grabbed the lead after just four minutes with Mahrez’s thunderous strike. Subs | Steffen, Zinchenko, Laporte, Torres, Delap, Doyle, Palmer Starting XI | Ederson, Walker, Garcia, Ake, Mendy, Rodrigo, Fernandinho (C), De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Foden
Here's your City line-up to face the Foxes! Initially that did not present a problem and the hosts dominated possession with Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne operating as fluid false nines. It was a third successive win for the Foxes and condemned City boss Pep Guardiola to the heaviest defeat of his career in terms of goals conceded.Ĭity were hampered by injuries and illness and, after Gabriel Jesus became their latest high-profile casualty in midweek, started without a recognised centre forward.