Jamie Vardy scored his first hat-trick in a Leicester City shirt as the Foxes claimed a 4-2 win over Manchester City at the King Power Stadium.
Claudio Ranieri's charges were two goals up in five minutes as the England striker ended his 10-game Premier League goal drought by lashing a low drive into the bottom corner, and Andy King curled home moments later.
Within 20 minutes, the hosts were three up as Vardy added another after skipping past visiting keeper Claudio Bravo, and he completed his hat-trick by intercepting a misplaced John Stones pass and finishing from a narrow angle.
Aleksandar Kolarov and Nolito scored late consolation goals for the away side but the result was never in doubt as Leicester saw the game out and climbed to 14th in the table.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action in the East Midlands.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Leicester City and Manchester City!
On paper, this is one of the fixtures of the season - the current Premier League champions versus one of the main contenders, led by arguably the most illustrious manager in the world. However, one of the teams today will be desperately scrambling to claim points in a bid to stave off the threat of relegation.
How the mighty have fallen - the Foxes, who shocked the entire footballing world just a few months ago when they claimed the Premier League title with several games to spare, are now just two points above the relegation zone.
Pep Guardiola's charges, meanwhile, have not been as dominant as many thought they would be, but they're still very much in the running for the title, sitting just four points off the top.
Now, time to bring you the team news...
LEICESTER STARTING XI: Zieler, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, King, Amartey, Albrighton, Slimani, Vardy
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Bravo, Sagna, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Stones, Fernando, Gundogan, Navas, De Bruyne, Silva, Iheanacho
LEICESTER SUBS: Hamer, Chilwell, James, Mendy, Gray, Musa, Okazaki
MAN CITY SUBS: Caballero, Sterling, Nolito, Sane, Clichy, Toure, Adarabioyo
Leicester, who made 10 substitutions in the Champions League at Porto, have reinstated the 11 players who began the 2-1 defeat by Sunderland.
Man City, meanwhile, make four changes from their 3-1 defeat to Chelsea last weekend - Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta, Fernando and Kelechi Iheanacho are in, while Leroy Sane, Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero are out, the latter three with suspensions.
The last time these two met, back in February, Leicester ran out 3-1 winners at the Etihad Stadium in what was arguably the performance of the season from the Foxes, but this time round, they sit 16th in the table having claimed just 13 points from their 14 games so far.
The loss of N'Golo Kante to Chelsea was a big loss for the Foxes, while a number of players, most notably Jamie Vardy, have not been anywhere near the levels that they reached last season. The added strain of the Champions League has also played a big part in affecting Leicester's league form, but few expected them to do as badly as they have done so far.
Just over a year ago, Vardy had just broken Ruud van Nistelrooy's Premier League goalscoring record, as Leicester were joint-top of the table alongside Manchester City. This time round, he's mustered just two top-flight goals, and hasn't scored in the league since September 10.
One shining light for Leicester is that they've cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League. Granted, they had one of the most straightforward groups, being drawn alongside FC Copenhagen, Club Brugge and Porto, but nonetheless they did well to not only qualify on their first ever journey in the competition, but to do so as group winners with a game to spare. The 5-0 defeat at Porto may prove morale-sapping, however, even if it was a dead rubber.
Man City, like Leicester, have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League, though they finished as runners-up in their group - their 1-1 draw against Celtic was also a dead rubber as the Citizens were assured of second place while Celtic were set to finish bottom.
Some solace for Leicester comes in the shape of a key absence in the Man City squad - Sergio Aguero, who was sent off against Chelsea for a vicious tackle on David Luiz, so he will sit today out. Fernandinho was also dismissed late on against the Blues, while Nicolas Otamendi is suspended after picking up five yellow cards.
HEAD TO HEAD: Manchester City have never lost an away game to Leicester in the Premier League, with their last top-flight league defeat in the East Midlands city coming in March 1987.
However, Leicester did take four points off Man City last season, winning 3-1 away and drawing 0-0 at home.
Claudio Ranieri has won seven of his eight Premier League games against Man City, with the only draw coming at the King Power last season.
Man City have won their last six fixtures against defending champions in the Premier League, last losing to Chelsea in March 2011.
Jamie Vardy has scored against 20 of the 23 different teams he's faced in the Premier League, but Man City are one of the three opponents he's yet to net against in the competition.
PREDICTION: Time for me to predict today's scoreline at the King Power. The form book suggests that City will hammer their opponents, but Leicester - whose first-team, with the exception of Wes Morgan, has had a week's rest and should be fresh today - will be desperate to get points today and give their fans something to smile about. I reckon it'll finish 2-2.
The two sets of players make their way onto the King Power pitch - kickoff is imminent!
Leicester have only won one of their last nine league matches and are without a win in five games. Man City have only won four of their last 14 matches in all competitions. Will one of these sides reignite their season today? Sports Mole will keep you up to date as all the action unfolds!
KICKOFF: The visitors get the action underway under a rainy Leicester sky.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY (JAMIE VARDY)
Incredible! Just two-and-a-half minutes played and the champions are in the lead - and the scorer is Jamie Vardy, who had not scored in 16 games prior to today and had not even mustered a shot on goal since September 10!
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-0 MANCHESTER CITY (ANDY KING)
I'm speechless, I really am. This was not expected at all, but what a start it's been as Leicester have only gone and established a two-goal lead over Man City in the space of five minutes!
Mahrez and Slimani combined to slip Vardy through on goal in between Stones and Kolarov, and the Englishman coolly rifled home past Bravo. Moments later, Slimani was involved again as he laid the ball off to King on the edge of the area, and the Wales international's ensuing effort saw the City keeper get his fingers to the ball, but it slipped through.
CHANCE! Nearly a third for the champions as Mahrez marauds into the area with the ball, aims and fires a shot towards the bottom left corner, but Stones gets a block!
The visitors appear to have rejigged their formation a number of times already in the first 10 minutes - they are completely rattled in the wake of a rampant Leicester.
CHANCE! A third really looks imminent as Leicester keep banging on the door! From a short corner, Huth nods the ball down to Slimani six yards out, but the Algerian blasts just over the bar!
Man City are now beginning to find their feet as De Bruyne twists and turns to work a shooting opportunity for himself, but he drags his shot wide.
BOOKING: Simpson slides in on Kolarov on the right, catching the Serb late, and gets himself the first booking of the game.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 3-0 MANCHESTER CITY (JAMIE VARDY)
The champions are back! The visitors are completely shellshocked while the home fans are delirious as Vardy is now on a hat-trick! Fuchs lumps a long ball from the back towards Mahrez on the right, the Algerian deftly flicks the ball towards Vardy, putting him through on goal, and the Englishman rounds Bravo to slot home!
CHANCE! Now Mahrez nearly helps himself to a goal as he drives forward into the area, pulls off a few stepovers, and forces a fine save out of Bravo to his right!
More out of desperation than anything, Kolarov tries to have a go from 25 yards, but his effort flies well over.
Man City's players appear stunned - they try to play the ball out from the back, Fernando almost passes it straight out for a corner, and Stones is forced to hack clear.
CHANCE! Better from Man City who are now applying some pressure - Gundogan mis-hits his effort from the edge of the box, but it falls kindly to De Bruyne, who forces a corner. The Belgian swings the ball in and Fernando flicks it on into a dangerous position, but Kolarov heads just wide at the far post.
Man City manage to win a succession of corners and De Bruyne's deliveries are dangerous enough, but none of his teammates are able to get onto the end of them and Leicester escape scot-free.
Leicester's two banks of four are stifling Man City's attacking forays as the visitors play the ball around and Kolarov attempts another long-range drive, but it gets blocked by a blue shirt.
Man City are on their sixth corner of the first half and De Bruyne takes again, but Slimani heads clear - the Belgian claims the ball back and curls it to the back post, and Zieler is alert to claw it away as Iheanacho lurks intently.
Boos ring round the King Power as Albrighton fouls Navas and the ref eventually decides to give Man City a free kick, which De Bruyne takes but to no avail as Iheanacho fouls Morgan in the area to get Leicester off the hook.
Kolarov's sharp cutback from the left finds Fernando, whose first-time sidefoot is headed away by King. Not long to go until half time and Leicester are not letting anything through.
De Bruyne plays in Silva down the left, who cuts it back towards the penalty spot, but Morgan is there once again to hack clear.
CHANCE! Two minutes of added time as Leicester very nearly claim a fourth, with Albrighton finding the unmarked Slimani, who somehow manages to head wide!
HALF TIME: LEICESTER CITY 3-0 MANCHESTER CITY
Leicester really have a thing for producing shocks and confounding the bookies, don't they? Two seasons ago they survive the drop against all odds, last season they cruise to the title, and just as everyone is thinking "surely that's it, they're doomed, Man City are going to batter them today", what happens? A three-goal lead for the Foxes against Pep Guardiola's side by the 20-minute mark!
With the Champions League out of the way for the next few weeks, Leicester can finally roll up their sleeves and get back to the bread and butter of the Premier League - but very few thought that it would be against one of the toughest sides in the division, and in such an emphatic manner. Jekyll and Hyde, much?
Jamie Vardy - who, lest we forget, had not scored in 16 games - has claimed a brace and is on a hat-trick, while Andy King added a third with a rocket from the edge of the area, which Claudio Bravo reached but was not able to keep out. And it could have been five or six as a number of other chances, most notably from Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, went begging.
1 – Riyad Mahrez has assisted Jamie Vardy in the Premier League for the first time since February vs Liverpool. Rekindled. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 10 December 2016
For the sake of balance...
3-0 - The last team to lose after being 3-0 up at HT in a Premier League game were Leicester in October 2003 (v Wolves). Wary. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 10 December 2016
Both sides have mustered six shots apiece, but Leicester have four efforts on goal to Man City's none. And the following stats are truly eye-opening - 24 percent possession for Leicester to Man City's 76 percent, and 71 completed Foxes passes to the Citizens' 289.
KICKOFF: We're back underway at the King Power as neither side makes any changes.
The ball is played out to Zabaleta on the right, but his cross flies straight into the hands of Zieler.
CHANCES! Man City are hell-bent on trying to claw back an early goal and they come so close as Iheanacho glances a header across goal, then Zabaleta and De Bruyne see shots blocked, before the Belgian reclaims the ball and drags another shot just wide from 15 yards.
Leicester are sitting incredibly deep here as De Bruyne's dangerous cross is punched away by Zieler, before Navas's volley is blocked. The Foxes know that, even with a three-goal lead, they need to be cautious against a side unwilling to go down without a fight and capable of hitting the hosts where it hurts.
De Bruyne's defence-splitting pass puts Iheanacho through on goal, but he's flagged offside just before Zieler saves his shot.
Leicester have withstood Man City's initial barrage in the second half and now they probe forward as King forces a corner from Navas, which Albrighton plays to Amartey, who in turn fires well over.
CHANCE! A great passing sequence from Man City sees Iheanacho tee up Gundogan, but the German drags a low shot just wide from 17 yards out.
SUBSTITUTION: An interesting roll of the dice from Guardiola as Jesus Navas makes way for Raheem Sterling and Yaya Toure replaces Kelechi Iheanacho - the holding midfielder is to play as Man City's lone forward.
CHANCE! Yet another dangerous chance for Man City, with Zabaleta cutting inside from the right into the area and attempting to curl the ball into the back of the net, but King charges the effort down.
CHANCE! Slimani edges forward from 50 yards out and, with Man City's backline edging away from him, he is able to make his way into the area where he tries a shot, but Bravo gets down and saves.
More questionable goalkeeping from Bravo as he receives the ball inside his six-yard box, looks for Sagna at right-back with Vardy closing in, and ends up skewing the ball out of play near the corner. Wonder what Joe Hart is making of what's unfolding at the King Power today?
BOOKING: A bit of a questionable caution as Fernando catches Simpson on the halfway line and, despite appearing to be a legit tackle, the ref gets his yellow card out.
SUBSTITUTION: Final sub of the day for Guardiola as Nolito is on in place of Ilkay Gundogan. Looks like the former Barcelona boss could really do with the extra substitutions that he called for earlier in the week...
Just over 20 minutes plus added time to go here at the King Power and it looks like Leicester are over the worst of the Man City attacks. As we saw in the FA Cup, however, having a 3-0 lead even as far into the game as the 80th minute means nothing unless that lead is still there at the final whistle.
(Sorry, Curzon Ashton...)
SUBSTITUTION: A change for Leicester as Shinji Okazaki comes on and Islam Slimani comes off.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 4-0 MANCHESTER CITY (JAMIE VARDY)
Sorry but that is shocking - what was John Stones thinking? Just a few minutes earlier he misjudged a long ball not far from his own goal and appeared to control it with his arm, but a second mistake in quick succession proves fatal as Vardy completes his hat-trick - unbelievably, it is his first treble for Leicester!
Stones attempted a backpass to Bravo but it was way too short as Vardy read it, went round the goalkeeper with his first touch and then squeezed a shot in from a tight angle - Sagna appeared to have cleared it, but Hawkeye confirmed that the ball was just over the line when he did so.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 4-1 MANCHESTER CITY (ALEKSANDAR KOLAROV)
A sliver of solace for the beleaguered visitors as Leicester's clean sheet is breached - Fuchs fouls Silva on the edge of the area to give Man City a free kick, and Kolarov's effort curls into the top-right corner past Zieler from 20 yards. A great goal, but surely too little too late?
Zabaleta breaks free and sends a cross in, which Nolito manages to meet with his head, but a Morgan deflection sees the ball comfortably fall into the hands of Zieler.
SUBSTITUTION: Jamie Vardy gets a standing ovation by the Leicester fans as he's replaced by Demarai Gray.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 4-2 MANCHESTER CITY (NOLITO)
Leicester need to watch their backs now as this could get tense - from four goals up, there's just two goals between them and Man City as Kolarov breaks down the left, plays a low ball into Nolito eight yards out, and the Spaniard drills past Zieler.
SUBSTITUTION: Four minutes of added time and not long left for Leicester to hang on as Riyad Mahrez is replaced by Matty James.
BOOKING: Okazaki pulls back the advancing Kolarov and gets a yellow for his troubles.
FULL TIME: LEICESTER CITY 4-2 MANCHESTER CITY
The final whistle blows and the Leicester players, buoyed by their jubilant fans, celebrate a wonderful win over one of the biggest teams in the Premier League as Jamie Vardy picks up the match ball for his hat-trick over Manchester City!
The England striker, considered out of form prior to tonight, bagged his first treble in a Foxes shirt which, combined with an Andy King strike, ensured that they had enough of a cushion to withstand a late two-goal fightback from the visitors.
That's all we have time for here at the King Power but stick with Sports Mole as we have match reports, player/manager reaction, and all the latest news from Saturday's big football games! Thanks for following and, until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
