Thanks for joining me. Have a great Christmas!
Here is Jamie Jackson’s report ...
Rodgers on the performance: In particular, in the first half we weren’t good at all. I think it shows how good my group of players have done. It was a really good lesson for us tonight, for our young players. There are no complaints in terms of the result. It shows, for this young group, there is still a long way to go.”
On defensive performance: “I thought Ben [Chilwell] had done really really well this evening. You also have to respect it’s a big level of opponent. You see De Bruyne and the level he is at and it’s a world class level.”
On penalty: “I haven’t seen it again, to be honest.”
Kevin De Bruyne on going off: “Just a little bit of cramp, it was a hard game. In the end my body said to take a rest.”
On the team performance: “I think defensively, yes. I think there was a lot of pressure early on. They went 1-0 ahead but I think it was their only chance of the game.”
On Mahrez: “One against one, Riyad is one of the most dangerous wingers in the league.”
Riyad Mahrez on playing Leicester: “I think it was a bit strange at the beginning. I think we played very good, they scored during our best moment but we came back.”
On Arteta: “It was difficult obviously because Mikel was an important member of staff in the club. He has taken his chance and we’re happy for him.”
Mary Waltz is brining statistical complexities at this late hour: “I am a math failure but Mr. Rice may want to factor in the ratio of fouls to possession.”
Liverpool are currently playing extra time in Doha, which is good news for Leicester.
Even with the win, Manchester City are still a point behind Leicester but they will be looking to make overtaken them in the next few weeks. The Foxes face Liverpool on Boxing Day ...
Steve Rice brings accurate stats: “Each side has committed a similar number but of all the emails you have received you print the three promulgating the notion that only City foul.”
People see what they want to see.
Full-time: Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City
Mahrez and De Bruyne were just too good for Leicester. An incredible attacking display from two players proving that the hosts are still the most likely to challenge Liverpool for the title. Leicester just could not cope and a number of individuals had poor, which ensured they would never get anything out of the game despite Vardy giving them the lead.
90+2 mins: Carragher gives De Bruyne man of the match as he is replaced by Aguero. I might have given it to Mahrez for a change. They have both been excellent today.
Updated
90 mins: De Bruyne tries to take apart Leicester again but it ends with him going down with cramp.
Four minutes added on.
89 mins: Is there a better midfielder in the world right now than De Bruyne? I am going to argue not.
Phil Foden is coming on for Sterling.
87 mins: Leicester send a ball over the top for old times’ sake but it has too much on it and Ederson comes out to collect off Praet’s toe.
85 mins: Lots of passing side to side here now. More as we get it.
83 mins: City are keeping the ball here. It is all very easy and Leicester are looking pretty demoralised by it.
81 mins: Mahrez does too much on this occasion. He gets into the box and drops a shoulder to send the entire defence the wrong way but then takes another touch and shots rather than set up teammates in better positions.
Jesus then chases the ball to the byline, whacks a cross which Schmeichel clears with his feet.
79 mins: Gundogan is having a sit down and is looking to be heading off. Rodri is coming on.
Mary Waltz says: “Klopp must be dreading the end of 2019. How could 2020 possibly be better.”
77 mins: Vardy dispossesses Fernandinho in the box, gets to the byline from where he whacks the ball straight into Otamendi’s stomach and City remove the danger.
Who is man of the match? Mahrez or De Bruyne?
Praet is on for Tielemans.
75 mins: De Bruyne controls a vicious pass from Mendy dead and then gets it out of his feet and aims one for the top corner but Schmeichel palms it over.
73 mins: Is it time to see Aguero? Give him a few minutes to get in the mood for a busy festive period. City have had 18 shots compared to Leicester’s five which sums up the match. I suspect the passing stats are also laughable in City’s favour.
Gundogan plays in Mahrez, who smacks a shot from the edge of the area which hits Soyuncu right in the old crown jewels. He did not enjoy that.
71 mins: Gundogan goes into the book for a late challenge on Vardy. I am not sure it was worth but he did it anyway.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Leicester (Jesus, 69)
What a player De Bruyne is! He flies past Soyuncu once again, gets into the box and picks out Jesus at the back post where he slides to divert the ball into the back of the net for his first home goal since January.
Updated
67 mins: Almost game over as Mendy gets in round the back, flashes a cross into the box which Mahrez runs onto and slaps a shot towards the corner but Schmeichel is equal to it and it lands safely with a defender who clears.
@Will_Unwin How's that not a pen for Ederson wiping out Barnes. As clear and obvious as it gets ...
— Luke McLaughlin (@LukeMcLaughlin) December 21, 2019
I would argue he is doing his best to make a save and that it’s pretty harsh to limit his ability to do so but I see your point.
65 mins: Mahrez is scaring the hell out of Chilwell every time he gets hold of the ball. This time he gets beyond the left-back but Ndidi is backing him up and dispossesses the Algerian.
63 mins: Barnes will be replaced by Albrighton, it would seem.
61 mins: Vardy collects the ball on the right wing, he waits a second and whips in a very dangerous cross into the corridor of uncertainty but Barnes can’t get enough on it at the back post. Ederson also flies out and takes down Barnes, who gets injured in the process and he’s heading off.
59 mins: It’s Mahrez again causing trouble. Mendy pulls the ball back to De Bruyne who flicks it into the Algerian’s path, he positions himself to get on top of a bouncing ball but fires it wide.
Mike Dean is in charge! De Bruyne does well to charge down Soyuncu, drive into the box with the ball and then cut it back for Jesus but the referee blows up for something or nothing. De Bruyne gets very angry and Magic Mike plucks out a yellow card.
Updated
57 mins: Chilwell is having a bad game, it has to be said. Walker catches him out as he tries to let the ball dribble out of play, the City defender sends in a cross, there is an appeal for handball in the box which Leicester survive, before they belatedly clear the ball.
It’s a Christmas miracle!
@Will_Unwin I presume Eamonn Harrigan is my late Uncle Paddy's son. His father took me to a match in Filbert St. in August 1967 v Ipswich Town. Greetings!
— An Saoi Saonta (@AnSaoiSaonta) December 21, 2019
55 mins: Sterling catches the Leicester defence off-guard by cutting in from the left, everyone thinks he’s going to shoot but instead lays it into the path of Mahrez who hits a shot first time but makes a poor connection and it trickles to Schmeichel.
53 mins: De Bruyne whips in the free-kick from the right but the flag goes up for offside against Otamendi, which is pretty incompetent of him.
51 mins: I feel like the crowd have travelled to the Christmas markets in Manchester City and had a few mulled wines and are now very sleepy. Ndidi tries to wake them up by cynically taking down De Bruyne on the left flank and is subsequently booked for his illegal work.
49 mins: It is not as relentless as the opening 45 minutes as both teams try and play their way into the second half.
47 mins: A relatively quiet start the the second half but not much has changed. City are getting on the ball and Leicester are struggling to get forward.
Second half
Here we go again!
Geoff Wignall brings stats: “Man City 1st half: 73% possession and still managed to commit 57% of the fouls. How very Pep.”
Morgan Dodd offers: “Mary is right [18.24]. BR took what he inherited (great talent, no doubt) and improved it. Neither Pep nor Klopp can say that—both bought a lot. And Man City is currently a team based most around possession for possession sake and tactical fouling. How is that good for the game? Credit to BR and Klopp that they do not have such black marks at the moment.”
Gavin Coyle emails in: “With all this hysteria against Manchester City’s fouls that are apparently a crime against humanity, can I congratulate Leicester for fouling the right way, almost Corinthian.”
Can Leicester change much? They just unable to cope with a team playing this well at such a high tempo. I think they just need to be more proactive in getting the ball back to whack towards Vardy.
Mary Waltz says: “Rodgers has done a fantastic job with Leiceister and deserves kudos. But you know he bristles at not being included in the Klopp vs. Pep debates.”
Mac Millings has done this:
To celebrate the festive season, I’ve made you and your readers a little song...
You know Basham and Ansu
And Draxler, Eriksen,
Koman and Kewell,
Maradona, Lee Dixon;
But Stuart McCall the most famous reindeer Fitz Hall?
Mou-dolph and Harry Kanedeer
Had a Dele Alli, Rose,Kanté, Firmino, Sané
Hughes, Wijnaldum, Salah (Mo)
Oliver Kahn, Der Kaiser,
Eustace, Pfaff and Collins (James)
They never let poor Mou-dolph
Jonny, Nani, David James
Juanfran, Oggy, Tiss, Nasri
Sancho, Keïta, Shay ,
Mou-dolph, Withe, Sarr, Jones, Mark Bright
Wanchope, Divock, Leighton, Wright.
Stam, Dahlberg, Reina, Lovren,
Juande Ramos, Sammy Lee,
Mou-dolph and Harry Kanedeer
Dunga, Downing, Summerbee!
Eamonn Harrigan has an opinion I do not agree with: “No way is that a pen. The Man City player trod on Ricardo and fell over. VAR is a joke.”
Half-time: Manchester City 2-1 Leicester
I have really enjoyed that half. It’s been played at a fantastic tempo and City are playing some excellent stuff while also looking in permanent jeopardy whenever the ball goes near Vardy. Mahrez has been the standout player so far against his former club.
45 mins: This has been an excellent half of football from the hosts. Leicester have done well to cope with them as well as they have, as City have not reached this level for a while. I would argue they are playing better than they did against Arsenal.
Two minutes added on.
An email from Colin Young: “I agree City are notorious for deliberate fouls; they clearly have permission from Pep to, umm, ‘Pepetrate’ one deliberate foul per player.
“Against Arsenal last week, they were by far the better team but really took liberties with the rules of the game. I think Pep should be taken to task over this.”
A fine tactic:
@Will_Unwin Whatever about Man City's tactical fouls, Mike Dean's tactical whistling is something else
— Paul Neilan (@PaulNeilan_) December 21, 2019
GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Leicester (Gundogan, pen, 43)
The German steps up and calmly places it to Schmeichel’s left. It was perfectly sent into the corner with great pace.
Updated
42 mins: PENALTY TO MAN CITY! Sterling dribbles into the box, runs at Pereira who has slipped and then brings down Sterling in the process. It goes to VAR, who agree with Dean.
40 mins: De Bruyne lifts the ball over the top, which Sterling reaches but his control takes him away from goal and his pullback goes nowhere near a man in blue.
City break on Leicester and the ball ends up with De Bruyne 25 yards from goal, he gets it out of his feet and whacks a fearsome shot which Schmeichel parries clear.
Guardiola is hugging Rodgers on the touchline, in a manner I would describe as aggressive. The sort of thing the bloke from uni you hate would do.
38 mins: City are playing some excellent stuff, switching the play at ease and knocking it around at speed when they need to. City are really on top here but need a couple more considering how bad their defence is.
36 mins: De Bruyne does Soyuncu good and proper by flicking the ball around the Turkish defender and sprinting past him, forcing the Leicester player to drag him down just outside the area. Mahrez curls a powerful shot towards the top corner but it goes just wide.
As Mary Waltz points out: “Video game football. What a treat!”
34 mins: Mike Dean is doing his best to ensure one of the most exciting games you will see is slowed down at every possible opportunity.
@Will_Unwin talking about tactical fouling, man city committed two in two minutes. The second one was right outside the box when Vardy scored. Pep's team is always like this and it needs to be called out every time it happens.
— Gary P (@eismcquare) December 21, 2019
32 mins: Guardiola is on the sidelines trying to whip up the City fans into a fury. It’s not exactly church-like at the Etihad but the atmosphere could be better.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Leicester (Mahrez, 30)
The Algerian has been City’s best player by a mile today and he once again cuts in from the right before firing a low shot at goal which deflects off Soyuncu, wrong-footing Schmeichel in the process, forcing the Dane watch it trickle into the goal.
Updated
28 mins: The hosts are playing pretty ruddy well and Mahrez flashes a dangerous cross along the six-yard box but there is no one there in blue to turn it home.
Vardy almost makes it 2-0. A long pass is sent to him to race onto, he dribbles into the box, sells Otamendi a dummy and then gets enough room to fire a shot from a tight angle but it ends up going over. City really need a better plan than this to stop Vardy.
26 mins: Leicester clear a corner back out to De Bruyne who curls a cross to Sterling who sidefoots a volley at goal but Schmeichel stands up and repels it with his feet.
24 mins: Manchester City have been pretty dominant here and could have been ahead themselves but their deep flaws have cost them once again.
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Leicester (Vardy, 22)
It will not come as a surprise to many to learn that Manchester City cannot cope with Vardy. Barnes gets the ball on the halfway, whips a pass with the outside of his foot round Fernandinho which Vardy gets onto and the sprints away from the Brazilian before dinking the ball over Ederson.
Updated
20 mins: Tielemans launches the ball over the top for Vardy to latch onto, he takes it into the box and then pulls one back for Barnes to attack but it’s too heavy for his teammate and City take control of the situation.
Mike A emails to say: “Can I complain about a tactical foul by Man. City even though one has yet to occur? Just wanted to be first in line.”
Complaining is one of life’s great joys.
18 mins: Almost the opener from Jesus. Mahrez once again gets the better of Chilwell by sending him the wrong way, allowing the Algerian to reach the byline from where he jabs it back to Jesus who toe pokes the ball towards goal only to see Schmeichel push out a hand to stop the shot. A cross is then sent back into the box but Jesus’ header does not worry Schmeichel as he easily gathers it.
16 mins: Mahrez is looking very lively. He does a few stepovers before firing a shot at goal but it hits a defender and kindly bounces into Schmeichel’s arms.
Mary Waltz is right: “I know you are on pins and needles waiting for the Dean auto-biography like the rest of us.”
Updated
14 mins: Mahrez whips in a corner, which makes its way out to Sterling at the back post. He wins the ball back, sends it to Mendy to lift in a deep cross, which Mahrez controls, allowing him to lay it off to De Bruyne who whacks a low shot against the outside of the post from the edge of the area.
12 mins: City are forced back by Leicester but they will not mind, as long as they’re in position they will be happy. They build up slowly, until Mahrez cuts into the box and whacks a shot at goal but it’s blocked. There are a couple of shouts for handball but it is certainly not a penalty.
10 mins: De Bruyne perfectly controls a pass from Mendy, gets it out of his feet and slips the ball through to Sterling who darts beyond Evans, but the defender recovers well and dispossess the forward just before he had the chance to shoot.
City are pressing high, ensuring Leicester cannot play out from the back.
8 mins: Mahrez clips Maddison, who knew what he was doing when he took his first touch and waited for the contact. Both teams are looking pretty bright, as Walker and Chilwell dive into a 50:50, which the City man just about wins.
Mike Dean makes Leicester take a throw-in again because he is Mike Dean.
6 mins: Ndidi looks to be sticking very close to De Bruyne when City are in possession. The Belgian is the man to stop and Ndidi is certainly a man who can stop him.
4 mins: Gundogan launches a first-time shot from around 35 yards out but it almost ends up in the second tier. Leicester are looking to sending early balls over the top and turn City.
2 mins: Evans launches a long ball down the pitch which goes straight out for a goal kick. Things can only get better. In other news, Bernardo seems to be playing pretty deep in the centre of midfield. Things get pretty frantic in the Leicester box after Mahrez gets round the back but they recover to just about remove the danger.
Kick-off!
Peep! Peep! Peep! Let’s get ready to rumble!
The teams are funnelling out onto the pitch. The home mascots are wearing blue Santa hats, which seems a little cruel. Mainly as one of them is bigger than Bernardo Silva.
Updated
Would any of the City defence get into the Leicester team currently? I would argue not, which is a sign of how good the Foxes have recruited. Walker is probably the best of the the City back four but Pereira edges him in that position on current form. I don’t even see there being a debate with the other three positions.
Will this change today?
9 - Leicester are winless in their last nine Premier League away games against reigning champions (D2 L7) since a 1-0 win against Man Utd in January 1998. The Foxes have failed to score in eight of those games. Hurdle. pic.twitter.com/JVskJt8uWf
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 21, 2019
Matt Dony, I assume a Liverpool fan, says: “At the start of the season, I could not have imagined that I would have been happy to see City win today. What a strange season.”
Has anyone purchased any decent football-related Christmas presents? I’ve purchased some football-themed cushions.
Sky have just reminded us of Kompany’s winner in this fixture last season and now I need a little lie down. What a strike that was! I was basically sat right here for that one, too. It’s a shame there is no more Kompany at City.
Mary Waltz emails to say: “Should be a great fixture. Elimination match for who gets to finish second to Liverpool. Also interesting is the ego contest between Pep and Brog.”
Jamie Redknapp describes the City midfield selection as “brave”, which is not a great endorsement. I am also suspicious of whether Fernandinho and Otamendi can cope with Vardy’s pace. Would it have been an idea to play Walker as a centre-back today?
Guardiola is showing a bit more faith in Mendy now, mainly as he seems to have realised that Angelino isn’t good enough. Now it’s up to the Frenchman to find some form after a very inconsistent/underwhelming spell.
The absolute lads.
What’s the Story...
— Arlo White (@arlowhite) December 21, 2019
Programme cover of the year contender at the Etihad!#MCFC #OASIS @liamgallagher pic.twitter.com/m92CzPklTw
Who will finish second? Does anyone really care anymore? Leicester’s squad is actually strong enough to keep them there but if City get back to full strength and find another centre-back in January, then they will become favourites to earn silver medals in May.
I will be endeavouring to avoid all Christmas puns if I can help it. Naturally, some will slip out because I have been bombarded with festive adverts and haven’t walked down a street without lights shaped like a tree for two months.
IT’S CHRISSSSSSTMAAAAAAAS!
The midfield battle looks very interesting with City’s Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo up against Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison. The game will be won and lost there and I am slightly suspicious the hosts might struggle to contain the Foxes.
Aguero returns to the bench for Manchester City, while Gundogan is the main man in midfielder, with Rodri starting on the bench. Leicester bring in Barnes and Ayoze Perez for the match.
Updated
Starting lineups
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Mendy, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus
Subs: Bravo, Aguero, Zinchenko, Rodri, Cancelo, Foden, Garcia
Leicester: Schmeichel, Chilwell, Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Perez, Barnes, Vardy.
Subs: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Gray, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Praet.
Preamble
Good afternoon!
Manchester City could have been forgiven for forgetting that there was an important Premier League game today, having spent the week in the shadow of their assistant manager. Now that Mikel Arteta’s move to Arsenal has been confirmed, the focus is back on trying to finish second to Liverpool.
There is a surprising challenger in the top four, coming in the form of Etihad visitors Leicester City. The Foxes sit above the hosts and even a win for Pep Guardiola’s side wouldn’t see them overtaken. Brendan Rodgers made the right signings and adjustments in the summer, allowing him to create a side who can cope with the rigours of a top-four battle. They might fall a little short of Liverpool but they could easily best Manchester City, which is no small feat considering what is at their disposal.
Guardiola will be hoping the club can put down a marker against Leicester, to show they are the superior side. When Leicester City won the league, it was the game at the Etihad that showed they had the true potential to see off all challengers, easily winning 3-1. Now they will be hoping they can repeat the trick.
Should be a ruddy cracker!
Kick-off is 5.30pm (GMT).
