Manchester City 3, Leicester City 1
John Stones and Erling Haaland scored the goals that beat Leicester City but they had to endure a nervous end at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland went level with Mo Salah on 32 Premier League goals from a 38 match season after reaching 47 goals in all competitions for the season in just 40 appearances as City went to within 3 points of league leaders Arsenal.
His double strike against the Foxes in an intense first half for City in which John Stones opened the scoring appeared to be setting the scene for an epic hammering of the hapless Foxes.
But with a flurry of changes after half time came a loss in intensity and City conceded a late goal from former City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, as they well and truly lost focus as well as control of midfield as senior players were rested.
It was with the Champions League second leg against Bayern Munich in mind next Wednesday that City boss Pep Guardiola made three changes – Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, and Riyad Mahrez came in for Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and Ilkay Gundogan.
John Stones hooked home the opening goal after 5 minutes thanks to a cross by Rodri and Erling Haaland doubled matters with a spot kick after Wilfred Ndidi was adjudged to have handled the Jack Grealish’s cross in the penalty area with just 13 minutes on the clock.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Haaland’s 47th goal came in just his 40th goal for City, with De Bruyne slipping the ball to him after winning it off Wilfred Ndidi – the Norwegian lifted it over Daniel Iversen in the Foxes goal to make it 3-0 after just 25 minutes.
City were utterly dominant but Leicester still had teeth, testing the City defence when they could but Jamie Vardy was a shadow of his former self, a yard offside before hitting the side netting after running onto a late through ball while his team mates couldn’t get a clear shot on Ederson’s goal.
The goalscorers were taken off at the break, replaced by Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez, and Kalvin Phillips replaced Rodri after 53 minutes after Kyle Walker had blocked off Leicester sub Kelechi Iheanacho’s routes to goal following a through ball by James Maddison.
Cole Palmer then replaced Kevin De Bruyne after 61 minutes as Pep Guardiola rested more players against the feeble Leicester side who at least mustered a shot on goal through Dennis Pratt following a cross from Timothy Castagne who was released by Maddison.
City’s final change saw Sergio Gomez replace the tiring Jack Grealish just before Iheanacho clawed a goal back for the Foxes.
Iheanacho poached the loose ball after a defending mixup between Ederson and Phillips when between them they failed to clear a header by Leicester defender Harry Souttar into the six yard box following an outswinging corner by Maddison – his 3rd goal against City in his last five appearances against them.
And Iheanacho was close to a second for the Foxes after created space by rounding Ruben Dias but blazed well over while there was a shout for handball against Sergio Gomez which was turned down.
And Iheancho drilled a first time shot against the near post in added time after a great cross from the right by Maddison but the flagging Blues dragged themselves across the finishing line.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Leicester City 1
Ederson: 6. Had plenty of cover in the first half but was left exposed after City made changes in the second half. An easy save from Dennis Praet but a more important one late on from James Maddison after he had blotted his copybook by letting Kelechi Iheacho score past him after some poor goalkeeping from a James Maddison corner.
Kyle Walker: 6. Needed the match practice but got back to deny Kelechi Iheanacho a clear shot after James Maddison put him through.
John Stones: 7. Hooked the opening goal after just 5 minutes, another great performance in the midfield/defence role. Rested at half time – and his absence followed by City’s second half ‘performance’ showed just how crucial he is.
Ruben Dias: 6. Some wobbly moments against an average Leicester attack who improved after the break.
Aymeric Laporte: 6. Looked a little rusty after not playing much lately.
Rodri: 7. Still at his imperious best in midfield. Rested in the second half with one eye on the Bayern Munich return leg.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Relished the battle with Wilfred Ndidi, set up Erling Haaland’s second goal and ball into dangerous areas to create more chances. Rested after an hour.
Bernardo Silva: 6. Helped out with pressing in midfield but booked before half time. Seemed subdued but was so crucial he wasn’t one of the players taken off.
Riyad Mahrez: 6. Had a shot tipped away by Daniel Iversen in the second half and volleyed the resulting corner over the bar, some good touches but less effective after the break.
Jack Grealish: 7. In form and causing mayhem in all sorts of dangerous positions, claimed a penalty after a VAR check following a clear handball. Volleyed a corner over the bar in the second half and had a shot blocked before he was rested.
Erling Haaland: 8. He’s got 47 for the season now – a penalty driven into the bottom right corner beyond the reach of Daniel Iversen and then his second goal lifted over Iversen after Kevin De Bruyne’s through ball set him up. Denied a hat trick again after being rested at half time.
Manuel Akanji (on for John Stones, 46): 6. Slotted in at centre back to give Kyle Walker more attacking licence.
Julian Alvarez (on for Erling Haaland, 46): 6. Added his energy to the side.
Kalvin Phillips (on for Rodri, 53): 6. Valuable midfield minutes – kept it simple.
Cole Palmer (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 61): 6. Given the free 8 role vacated by Kevin De Bruyne.
Sergio Gomez (on for Jack Grealish, 74): 6. Went into a left wing role after replacing the tiring Jack Grealish – appeared to have given a penalty late on but got away with it.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, Leicester City 1
Man City 1, Leicester City 0: 5. John Stones hooked the ball with a sweet left footed half volley in after Leicester City failed to clear a corner.
Man City 2, Leicester City 0: 13. Erling Haaland scored goal 46 with a penalty driven into the bottom right corner beyond the reach of Daniel Iversen after Wilfred Ndidi was determined by VAR to have handled Jack Grealish’s cross in the penalty area.
Man City 3, Leicester City 0: 25. Kevin De Bruyne won the ball from Wilfred Ndidi and drove upfield before threading the ball to Erling Haaland who lifted the ball beyond Daniel Iversen from 13 yards out.
Man City 3, Leicester City 1: 75. Kelechi Iheanacho reacted first to stab home the ball from close range after a mix-up between Kalvin Phillips and Ederson after they failed to properly clear a James Maddison corner.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Leicester City 1
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones (Akanji 46), Dias, Laporte, Rodri (Phillips 53), De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Grealish (Gomez 74), Haaland (Alvarez 46)
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Ake, Gundogan, Lewis
Booking: Bernardo Silva 45+1 (foul on James Maddison)
Goals: Stones 5; Haaland pen 13, 25
Leicester City: Iversen, Souttar, Soyuncu, Faes, Castagne, Tielemans (Mendy 62), Ndidi (Daka 87), Dewsbury-Hall (Praet 62), Kristiansen (Thomas 46), Maddison, Vardy (Iheanacho 46)
Leicester City Subs not used: Ward, Amartey, Tete, Marcal-Madivadua
Booking: Soyuncu 89 (foul on Julian Alvarez)
Goal: Iheanacho 74
Referee: Darren England