Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's
EFL Cup quarter-final showdown between
Leicester City and
Manchester City at the King Power Stadium!
The football world may have been dominated by the news of Jose Mourinho's sacking today, but there is also the not-insignificant matter of determining some EFL Cup semi-finalists this evening - including the holders Man City being in action.
We will take a close look at both teams a little later, but first let's check out the team news...
LEICESTER STARTING XI: Ward; Simpson, Soyuncu, Maguire, Fuchs; Choudhury, Iborra, Ndidi, Gray, Ghezzal; Iheanacho
LEICESTER SUBS: Jakupovic, Ricardo, Morgan, Mendy, Albrighton, Maddison, Okazaki
MANCHESTER CITY STARTING XI: Muric; Walker, Otamendi, Stones, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Garcia, Foden; Mahrez, Aguero, Diaz
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Ederson, Sterling, Gundogan, Delph, Jesus, Sandler, Nmecha
What can we make of those two teams, then?
Well, we'll start with the visitors and the headline news from Man City's camp is that Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne both return to the starting lineup for tonight's match - a huge boost for a side that was just beginning to get worn a little thin by injuries, even with their incredible depth.
Aguero has missed his side's last five games and was an unused sub at the weekend, whereas De Bruyne made his return off the bench against Everton.
De Bruyne was arguably Man City's best player en route to the league and EFL Cup double last season, so to have him back after such a long spell on the sidelines will be massive for City, particularly as David Silva is out until the New Year now too.
Aguero, meanwhile, has once again been in deadly form when fit this season and scored four times the last time these two sides met in February.
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There is also a return to the King Power Stadium for one Riyad Mahrez, who meets his former club for the first time since sealing his £60m switch there during the summer.
Mahrez fell out with some fans when trying to initially push for a move to the Etihad Stadium, but he should still be very well received here considering the incredible success he helped the club achieve. Mahrez completes the front three alongside Brahim Diaz, who scored twice in the last round.
In all,
Pep Guardiola has made eight changes to the team which beat Everton at the weekend, with only Otamendi, Walker and Mahrez keeping their places in the starting XI.
The visiting fans will be particularly excited to get another glimpse of the highly-rated Phil Foden in midfield, while there is a first competition senior appearance for Eric Garcia.
Changes are also the order of the day for Leicester as
Claude Puel makes seven from the team which lost to Crystal Palace at the weekend, including the absence of Jamie Vardy from the squad entirely.
Vardy has only recently returned from a groin injury but played 90 minutes at the weekend and is the type of player who would have been dying to play today. Puel opts to give him the night off, though.
Instead, former Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho leads the line for the Foxes this evening, and he has a fine record in this particular competition too.
Over his spells at both Leicester and Man City, Iheanacho has been directly involved in seven goals from nine EFL Cup matches, scoring four times and creating three more for his teammates.
Iheanacho will receive attacking support from the likes of Demarai Gray and Rachid Ghezzal in the wide areas, although both of them may be forced to spend much of their time on the back foot if Man City have their way.
Choudhury, Iborra and Ndidi make up the midfield and will try to curb the creativity of De Bruyne and co, with Mendy, Albrighton and Maddison among the players to drop out of the team from the weekend.
Old Slab'ead himself Harry Maguire will wear the armband for Leicester tonight as he is one of only four players to keep their place in the team, alongside Fuchs, Ndidi and Gray.
Soyuncu partners him at the heart of the defence with Jonny Evans suspended, while Danny Simpson is also handed a rare start to complete the back line. Danny Ward gets a chance in goal once again, as is the custom in this competition.
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It is a Leicester team missing some of their bigger names, then, but they will know that Man City's own rotation in this competition gives them a good chance to claim the scalp of the English champions - not to mention the current holders of this trophy too.
The Foxes do not look like getting dragged into a relegation battle this season, while a push for Europe is perhaps a bit of a stretch, so a good cup run could be exactly what they need to keep their campaign alive.
Puel's side have suffered back-to-back defeats to leave them now in the bottom half of the Premier League table, while they have failed to score in either of those defeats too.
The first of those is one Puel would take on the chin, having been beaten 2-0 by Tottenham Hotspur, but Saturday's 1-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace was a really poor result considering the Eagles' poor form.
Indeed, Leicester are now winless in their last three games across all competitions and have only won two of their last 11 inside normal time - drawing five and losing four in that time.
However, they did go on to turn one of those draws into a penalty shootout victory in the last round of this competition, edging past Southampton via the spot kicks.
In fact, Leicester have needed penalties in their last two rounds following goalless draws against Wolves and Southampton respectively, and tonight they could become only the fourth team to have three games go to a shootout in a single edition of the competition.
Only Liverpool and Stoke in 2015-16, and Cardiff in 2011-12, have ever managed that dubious feat beforehand, and none of those teams went on to lift the trophy. Be warned, Leicester!
Goalless draws in the past two rounds mean that Leicester are yet to concede a single goal in this season's competition, having also thrashed Fleetwood Town 4-0 in the second round.
Manchester City are, of course, a more potent attacking force than any of the teams they have come up against so far, but it is 19 years since the Foxes last reached the semi-final of this competition, so there is a very enticing incentive tonight.
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This is only the second time that Leicester have ever been drawn against the holders of this competition, and the only previous occasion bodes well for this one - a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea in 2007-08.
Puel's side are heading into a very difficult Christmas period, with two matches against Man City including tonight's, and a Premier League clash with Chelsea sandwiched in between those this weekend.
Leicester's next two home games both come against Man City - tonight and in the league on Boxing Day - and defeat tonight would see them lose back-to-back home outings for the first time since April, having been beaten by Tottenham Hotspur last time they were here.
Indeed, the Foxes have only won two home games inside normal time since August, although they have not been beaten at home in this competition inside normal time since August 2014, winning four of their last five.
The only exception to that recent run in this competition was defeat to Man City at this exact stage last season, and City will be looking for a repeat again tonight having then gone on to lift the trophy in 2017-18.
That was the fifth time Man City have won the competition, including three times in the past five years, and this term they are bidding to become the first team to retain it since Manchester United in 2009 and 2010.
Man City looked like an all-conquering force on their way to the trophy last season, though, and that has not quite been the same so far this term - thanks largely to the improved form of Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola's side have still played some incredible football, and it should not be forgotten that they have still made one of the best starts to a season in English top-flight history - but they still go into today's match trailing Liverpool by one point at the top of the Premier League table.
By contrast, Man City had an 11-point lead at the same stage of last season, although it should be noted that they do still have the best attacking record in the division by some distance - 11 goals clear of the next highest scorers.
The incredible rate of scoring has slowed slightly in recent weeks as City have suffered some underwhelming performances - at least by their own ludicrously high standards - but with Aguero back that will surely only increase against sooner rather than later.
Of course, any criticism of Man City's form has to be kept relative - they have still won four of their last five games across all competitions and have only lost one of their last 19, winning 16 of those.
The defeat to Chelsea could end up being costly this season having allowed Liverpool the chance to leapfrog them in the table, but it remains the only blemish on their domestic copybook so far.
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Man City have now won each of their last eight matches in this competition, a run which stretches back to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United in October 2016.
Guardiola's side have scored eight goals without reply in their last three EFL Cup outings too, including clean sheets in both games this season and a 3-0 win over Arsenal in the final last season.
City's EFL Cup defence began in fairly routine fashion when they won 3-0 at Oxford United in the third round, and last time out they eliminated Fulham with minimum fuss as Brahim Diaz got both goals in a 2-0 triumph.
Not since 2007-08 have Man City been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of this competition, when they were beaten by eventual winners Tottenham. They have progressed on each of the last five occasions that they have made it this far.
This is, however, Man City's first away game since that defeat at Chelsea 10 days ago, and they could therefore lose back-to-back matches on the road for the first time since a run of three in a row in October 2016 - when incidentally their third defeat was their most recent loss in this competition.
However, they have won each of their last four away games in the EFL Cup and were unbeaten in 14 - including 11 wins - before that 2-0 reverse at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the King Power Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction!
It is hard to back against Man City in any game, but Leicester will feel that they have a real chance tonight. Even so, Man City are able to make eight changes and still start the likes of De Bruyne and Aguero, so we still have to side with the visitors.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Leicester 1-2 Man City
This will be the fifth time that these two sides have met in the EFL Cup, and Leicester have been eliminated on every previous occasion.
The most recent of those came at this exact stage last season - a year ago tomorrow, in fact - when Man City won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw which saw Jamie Vardy net a last-gasp equaliser to cancel out Bernardo's opener.
These two sides have met once since then - in a Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium - and it is one Leicester would rather forget having lost 5-1, including a four-goal haul for Aguero in the second half.
Raheem Sterling had opened the scoring after only three minutes on that February occasion, only for Vardy to level things up 21 minutes later. From then on it was all about Aguero, though, and he will fancy his chances to scoring more tonight.
Man City have now won each of their last four meetings with the Foxes across all competitions, including the penalty shootout victory in this competition last season.
Not since 1950 have they won five times in a row against Leicester, so they are enjoying a rare period of dominance over today's opponents at the moment.
Right, the players are out and we're almost ready to get started here! A reminder of the team news before we do get underway...
LEICESTER STARTING XI: Ward; Simpson, Soyuncu, Maguire, Fuchs; Choudhury, Iborra, Ndidi, Gray, Ghezzal; Iheanacho
MANCHESTER CITY STARTING XI: Muric; Walker, Otamendi, Stones, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Garcia, Foden; Mahrez, Aguero, Diaz
KICKOFF: Here we go, then! Man City get us underway at the King Power Stadium!
A bright early break from Leicester as Gray bursts down the left flank, coasting away from Otamendi and even Walker. His cross is cut out, but that is an encouraging early sign.
John Stones has started this match in a holding midfield role, continuing his versatile nature under Guardiola so far this season. Garcia is alongside Otamendi at the heart of the defence.
Man City win a free kick in a good crossing position and De Bruyne puts it in to a decent area, but it is just too far in front of the throng of Man City bodies in the middle.
Really good pressing from Leicester as Muric puts a bobbling pass into the feet of Otamendi inside his own box, inviting the home attackers onto them. Gray closes down Garcia and only gets rewarded with a goal kick, but that will again give them some early encouragement.
Sharp passing move from City as Diaz almost breaks into the box, but Choudhury is there to make the challenge and put the ball behind for a corner.
Some more slick passes from Man City on the left as Diaz exchanges passes with Aguero, but this time Leicester make the challenge and have the chance to break. Ghezzal leads the charge, but is forced to cut back and then give the ball all the way back deep into his own half.
The visitors are dominating the ball in the pouring rain here, but Leicester would have expected that. They are set up for the counter-attack and are just biding their time.
GOAL! LEICESTER 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY (KEVIN DE BRUYNE)
GOAL! De Bruyne is back in the starting lineup, and he is back scoring goals of great quality!
The Belgian cuts inside from the left channel and then disguises his finish but shaping to curl it towards the far corner, only to whip it in at the near post from 25 yards. You can perhaps look at Ward's position to be beaten at the near post from there, but take nothing away from the quality of the finish.
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Just before that goal, the Man City fans engaged in a cheeky chorus of "Bring back Mourinho!" They will be enjoying themselves even more after that opener.
CHANCE! Chance for Man City to double their advantage as Diaz collects a pass inside the area, cutting back onto his right foot before seeing his shot blocked. The ball falls to Mahrez at the back post, but he blazes his finish over the bar.
Man City win another free kick in a similar position to their earlier one, and this time Mahrez goes for goal, but his effort slams straight into the wall.
SAVE! Good spell for Leicester here as they make a couple of bright breaks in quick succession, and it ends with Gray firing a low strike which might just be creeping in at the far post before Muric turns it behind for a corner.
Leicester are really knocking on the door now! A free kick is drifted into the box and Maguire takes it down before firing a low pass back into the middle, but Man City just about deal with it.
Leicester have responded really well to going behind, and in the last five or 10 minutes it is the home side who have looked most like scoring. They will know the importance of capitalising on this spell on top, though.
Leicester are struggling to get Iheanacho involved in this game at the moment - the forward has had just six touches so far, which is the fewest of any player on the pitch.
The ball is played into Diaz inside the area and he tries a lovely little turn, but gets it just wrong and the ball runs through to the keeper.
There is a cracking atmosphere inside the stadium tonight - the home fans have seen flashes from their side so far and that is enough to give them encouragement that there is something in this one for them.
SHOT! Leicester have the chance to break again as Iheanacho is found inside the Man City half, but he fires his eventual shot well over the crossbar.
Ten minutes remaining of the first half now and Leicester have so far done a good job of preventing the visitors from compounding their advantage. Ward has not had a great deal to do in goal, aside from picking the ball out of his own net.
Mind you, Leicester have not troubled Muric too much either, although they are seeing a decent amount of the ball and have a clear plan to break whenever they win possession back. They are very much in this game - it is not just one-way traffic.
A free kick into the box from the left causes momentary panic inside the Man City area as Maguire, Soyuncu and Iheanacho try to scramble it home, but the latter is offside.
More pressure from the hosts as Fuchs cuts the ball back to Ndidi, who takes a touch inside the area and then plays a low ball into the box which is put behind for a corner.
A poor delivery somehow finds its way all the way through to Maguire, but it is a hopeful swing of the boot at it under pressure from Mahrez and he fires it well over.
Mahrez forces a yard to cross from the left and whips his delivery in towards the near post, and Ward has to be alert to turn it behind for a corner.
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: LEICESTER 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY
Manchester City go into the break with the lead at the King Power Stadium, then, but Leicester are still very much in the game at the halfway stage.
The visitors have dominated possession and territory with Leicester set up for the counter-attack, but neither goalkeeper has been overly tested so far.
The only goal of that first half came from the fit-again Kevin De Bruyne, who marked only his third start of the season with the opener in the 14th minute.
It was a goal of high class too, skipping away from his marker before rifling his finish past the keeper from 25 yards. The ball did go in at the near post, so naturally questions must be asked of the keeper, but it was such a crisp strike that it caught Ward out.
Riyad Mahrez fired a decent chance well over the crossbar shortly after the opener, but the closest we have come to a goal since the opener came from Leicester.
It was Gray who let fly from range with a low strike towards the bottom corner, but his deflected effort was well turned around the post by Muric.
Claude Puel will have seen enough from his side to suggest that they can get something out of this game, but they need more of a cutting edge in the final third if they are to make the most of their counter-attacks.
Man City, for their part, will be looking to translate their dominance in terms of possession into chances as Ward has not had much to do in the home goal so far.
KICKOFF: We're back underway at the King Power Stadium!
CHANCE! Big chance for Man City to get a second at the start of the second half as Mahrez picks up a loose pass inside the Leicester half and immediately releases Aguero. The Argentine is clean through on goal, but Ward gets his angles right and denies City's all-time leading scorer.
Lovely touch from Mahrez as he cushions a pass inside for De Bruyne, but Maguire is across quickly to block the subsequent ball into the box.
YELLOW CARD! Foden goes into the book for a late challenge.
UPDATE: There is another quarter-final taking place tonight, and there could be a shock on the cards; Burton Albion have taken the lead at Middlesbrough through Jake Hesketh.
LEICESTER SUB: Leicester make their first change of the evening as
James Maddison replaces Ghezzal.
CHANCE! The visitors come close again as Aguero runs on to a low pass into the box but puts his finish too close to the keeper, who makes a fairly routine stop.
We're approaching the hour mark now and Leicester are still very much in this game. Man City have dominated possession once again, but it was been a fairly disjointed display from the holders compared to what we are used to seeing from them.
Leicester are even starting to work their way back into the possession stats too - they have enjoyed 54% of the ball in the last 10 minutes.
LEICESTER SUB: Another change from the home side sees
Marc Albrighton replace Iborra.
De Bruyne skips away from Choudhury before releasing Diaz down the left and he cuts inside before seeing his shot blocked behind for another Man City corner.
We could be about to see Raheem Sterling, who came off the bench to score at the weekend too. Such strength in depth for Man City.
CHANCE! Half a chance for Leicester as they recycle the ball after an initial corner, with the second delivery being met by Maguire. The Leicester skipper cannot get enough on his header to really trouble the keeper, though.
MAN CITY SUB: The visitors make their first change of the evening as Raheem Sterling replaces Diaz.
CLOSE! Almost a beauty from Mahrez as he is teed up by Foden on the edge of the box. Mahrez wraps his foot around the ball and tries to pick out the top corner, but it flashes narrowly over the crossbar.
Concern for Leicester here as Ndidi goes down and needs treatment. He limps off the field to enable his side to carry on, but for now the hosts will play with 10 men.
Leicester almost catch Man City out by taking the free kick quickly, but De Bruyne reacts in time and makes a crucial challenge on a stumbling Iheanacho inside the area.
MAN CITY SUB: Not quite ready to play a full 90 minutes, De Bruyne departs here to be replaced by Ilkay Gundogan.
GOAL! LEICESTER 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY (MARC ALBRIGHTON)
GOAL! Leicester have their equaliser with less than 20 minutes remaining, and it is a brilliant goal too!
Ndidi floats a lovely pass over the defence for Albrighton, who takes a touch and then lashes his volley past a helpless Muric to send the King Power Stadium wild! Game on here!
MAN CITY SUB: A third and final change from City in response to that equaliser as Gabriel Jesus replaces Aguero.
CLOSE! Foden carries the ball forward and then gives it to Mahrez, who fires a cross/shot right across the face of goal. It only needs a touch, but it runs through before going behind for a goal kick.
Lovely skill from Jesus as he producing a Zidane-esque turn to beat two defenders inside the box, but his subsequent cross is block and Leicester immediately launch their own counter.
LEICESTER SUB: Leicester make their last change as Ricardo Pereira replaces Iheanacho.
PENALTY APPEAL! Big shout for a Man City penalty here as Choudhury tries to make up for a poor touch with a sliding challenge on Jesus. Moments later Foden breaks into the box and puts his finish wide of the target, but Man City still want a penalty.
...but they're not getting one. After a check with VAR the on-field decision is upheld, and the replays show that it was on the edge of the area anyway.
YELLOW CARD! Gundogan is the second Man City player in the book for a foul on Maddison.
Just three minutes of normal time remaining in this match now, and as things stand it will be a repeat of last season's quarter-final which also went to penalties after a 1-1 draw. No extra time in the EFL Cup anymore, of course.
Man City have again not been at their best tonight, as the scoreline suggests. Leicester are on the verge of a huge result now, and that could take them to the semi-finals of a competition they have not won since 2000.
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match. Can either side find a winner?
END OF 90 MINUTES: LEICESTER 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY
Penalties it is! For the second time in a row at the quarter-final stage, Leicester hold Man City to a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium to force a shootout.
Man City came out on top almost exactly a year ago, but can Leicester pull off a shock this time around?
LEICESTER 1-0* MANCHESTER CITY - MAGUIRE SCORES! Muric gets a hand to Maguire's effort, but it is not enough to keep it out!
LEICESTER *1-1 MANCHESTER CITY - GUNDOGAN SCORES! Gundogan squeezes it past Ward, who got a good hand to it after guessing the right way but cannot keep it out.
LEICESTER 1-1* MANCHESTER CITY - FUCHS MISSES! Poor penalty from Fuchs as he fires his it well over the bar!
LEICESTER *1-1 MANCHESTER CITY - STERLING MISSES! Even worse from Sterling as he tries the Panenka but dinks it over the top!
LEICESTER 1-1* MANCHESTER CITY - MADDISON MISSES! Maddison stutters in the run-up and Muric does not fall for it, making the save. Another poor spot kick!
LEICESTER *1-2 MANCHESTER CITY - JESUS SCORES! Back to scoring ways as Jesus's stutter works, sending Ward the wrong way.
LEICESTER 1-2* MANCHESTER CITY - SOYUNCU SCORES! This is the longest stutter of the lot! Dreadful from Soyuncu as Muric again makes a comfortable save!
LEICESTER 1-3 MANCHESTER CITY - ZINCHENKO SCORES! Zinchenko strikes the killer blow in style with a stunning penalty into the top corner. It's all over!
FULL TIME: LEICESTER 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY (MAN CITY WIN 3-1 ON PENALTIES)
MANCHESTER CITY ARE THROUGH TO THE EFL CUP SEMI-FINALS!
It is penalty heartbreak for Leicester at the hands of Manchester City inn the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup for the second year in a row, then, as they are made to pay for some dreadful spot kicks in the shootout.
Sterling's dreadful Panenka dink will quickly be forgotten with Man City on the winning side and progressing into the semi-finals, but the Foxes missed three of their penalties after working so hard to drag themselves back into the game.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's EFL Cup quarter-final between Leicester City and Manchester City at the King Power Stadium as holders Man City win on penalties to progress through to the last four. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too!
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
