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Attendance: 31,908
Leicester logo
Premier League
Nov 18, 2017 at 3pm UK
 
Manchester City logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-1)
Jesus (45'), De Bruyne (49')

Live Commentary: Leicester City 0-2 Manchester City - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Manchester City move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 over Leicester City.
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Manchester City have moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win away at Leicester City.

City were fortunate to keep Vincent Kompany on the pitch during the early stages after a professional foul on Jamie Vardy, but Pep Guardiola's side capitalised to take the lead through Gabriel Jesus just before the break.

A second-half strike from Kevin De Bruyne doubled City's lead, and the visitors were able to stroll through the remainder of the match to register a 10th successive top-flight success.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in the East Midlands courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Leicester City and Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side travel to the King Power Stadium having not suffered a defeat all season, but Leicester have impressed since the arrival of Claude Puel. Who have the two managers selected in their starting lineup this afternoon?

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs; Ndidi, Iborra, Gray, Albrighton, Mahrez; Vardy

LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Chilwell, Iheanacho, King, Dragović, Slimani, Okazaki, Hamer


MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Kompany, Stones, Delph; Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Sane; Jesus

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Danilo, Gundogan, Aguero, Mangala, Bernardo, Yaya Toure


Let's start with the home side as Puel opts to make one change to his starting lineup after the 2-2 draw with Stoke City before the international break. Marc Albrighton has been recalled to the side and will presumably feature on the flank, with Shinji Okazaki dropping down to the substitutes' bench. Riyad Mahrez looks likely to move into a central position behind Jamie Vardy.

Puel's lack of tinkering means that Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Harry Maguire and Christian Fuchs all feature at the back. Maguire, inparticular, will be looking to put in another strong performance after looking at home in England's starting lineup against both Germany and Brazil.

The centre of the park will be covered by Wilfred Ndidi and Vicente Iborra. They have a tough job on their hands to keep City's star men quiet, but Iborra is now starting to live up to his reputation after leaving Sevilla for the East Midlands in the summer. The Spaniard has recovered from a minor knock sustained against Stoke to feature this afternoon.

Former City striker Kelechi Iheanacho features among the substitutes. The Nigerian has been limited to just 233 minutes of Premier League action since leaving the Etihad Stadium. Andy King, Okazaki and Islam Slimani are all options for Puel should Leicester need to chase the game later this afternoon.

Guardiola had a number of selection dilemmas to contend with ahead of this game and he has made two huge calls, the main one being handing a start to Vincent Kompany after over two months on the sidelines. The club captain is required due to the suspension of Nicolas Otamendi for five yellow cards. Facing a striker as lively as Vardy should keep Kompany on his toes this afternoon.

The second decision centred around Sergio Aguero after the Argentine fainted while on international duty with Argentina. The club's top goalscorer has been named in the squad but only on the bench. Gabriel Jesus takes his place in attack.

Fabian Delph had been rated as doubtful after missing international duty, but the versatile Englishman is expected to feature either at left-back or on the left-hand side of a back three, depending on how Guardiola chooses to line up. Raheem Sterling also starts after missing England's double-header at Wembley.

As usual, City are stacked with quality on the bench. Yaya Toure, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva all take their place alongside Aguero, while Danilo and Eliaquim Mangala provide backup for Kompany should the Belgian not be fit enough to play the full 90 minutes.

There is the unusual occurrence of every top Premier League side playing this afternoon and one of those games is just about to finish. Man City would have been hoping for an Arsenal win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium, but how have things panned out in the North London derby?

RESULT! Man City have gotten their wish. Goals from Shkodran Mustafi and Alexis Sanchez have earned Arsenal a convincing win over their arch rivals. It is a result which prevents Spurs from closing the gap on City to five points, and gives Guardiola's side a chance to go a massive 11 points clear of Mauricio Pochettino's outfit.

Click here to read our on the whistle report.


Unsurprisingly, City's form has been going down in the record books, and 31 points from 11 games - as well as a +31 goal difference - is the best start by any team in Premier League history. Guardiola has insisted that his team cannot become the new invincibles but as it stands, they are making a rather convincing case.

The records will keep tumbling should they prevail at the King Power. Victory will take the club to 34 points, which will represent the best start by any team after 12 matches.

City have scored four or more goals in six fixtures in all competitions this season - it's a phenomenal record. Guardiola's men also have 38 goals to their name in the Premier League - 15 more than any other team. Good luck, Morgan and Maguire...

There was much talk about Aguero in the build-up but City have been playing that well that they can afford to be without one of the best strikers in the world. Five players - Aguero, Jesus, De Bruyne, David Silva and Sterling - have all contributed a total of at least eight goals and assists in the league this season.

City have conceded five goals in their last four league games, but the North-West outfit have still been excellent at the back this season. Six clean sheets have come from 11 games in the league. Guardiola has spoken about the performances of John Stones, and the defender has certainly played his part in putting together such a record.

It is widely known that City are unbeaten this season but you have to go all the way back to April 23 for their last defeat in a competitive game. That came against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals, but only after extra time. Chelsea were the last team to beat City over 90 minutes, with a 2-1 win coming at Stamford Bridge on April 5.

Let's turn our attention to Leicester, who aren't exactly going through a rough patch. Despite the recent change in managers, the Foxes have only lost once in their last nine matches in all competitions, with that defeat coming at home to Liverpool towards the end of September.

That said, since Craig Shakespeare's departure, Leicester have recorded seven points from three games in the Premier League. It had previously taken 11 matches for the same total to be achieved.

Leicester have only lost to top-six sides this season, but their overall record in the same level of fixture throughout 2017 is poor. Nine defeats have been suffered from 10 games - the only win being over Liverpool in the game immediately after the sacking of Claudio Ranieri.

Despite the club's up and down form during the calendar year, Leicester have continued to score goals frequently at the King Power. The Foxes have scored in each of their last 12 home games, dating all the way back to the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in February.

While Puel deserves all of his plaudits for the results and performances from the Everton and Stoke games, the Frenchman has never defeated a team managed by Guardiola, with four games passing by without success and 10 goals being conceded. That's got to change at some point, right? We will have to wait and see whether that is today...

One player who will be keen to make an impression this afternoon will be Mahrez. The Algerian playmaker has insisted that he is not thinking about a potential transfer in January, but he also knows that an influential performance against a team of City's quality will only enhance his reputation.

PREDICTION! Despite being impressed with the standard of Leicester's recent performances, we obviously have to back Man City this afternoon. The home side should have their chances but we cannot see the Foxes being strong enough at the back to withstand the pressure which will be coming their way. Man City to win 3-1.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match will represent the 113th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive fixture, with Man City claiming 54 victories in comparison to 29 wins for Leicester. However, the Foxes have had the better of matches played over the last two years, with Leicester winning twice and scoring seven goals during games staged in 2016.

The reverse fixture last season saw Jamie Vardy end his goal drought in style with a hat-trick being netted in a 4-2 success. Leicester's man main has six goals from 11 starts in the top flight this season.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out at the King Power. We have had to wait two weeks for the return of the Premier League so as you can imagine, both sets of supporters are up for this one.

A reminder of the team news...

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs; Ndidi, Iborra, Gray, Albrighton, Mahrez; Vardy

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Kompany, Stones, Delph; Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Sane; Jesus


KICKOFF! We are underway in the East Midlands.

City are dominating the early possession at the King Power and it looks like Albrighton is operating in the middle, with Mahrez staying out wide. Interesting.

BOOKING! My word. What on earth is the referee thinking?! Vardy is played through on goal and he has the beating of Kompany. However, the Belgian centre-back brings down the forward and it should be a red card. Instead, the referee only gives a yellow. Huge let-off for City.

Mahrez has the opportunity to send a cross into the middle but City deal with the danger. There is a crescendo of boos echoing around the King Power. Understandably, the home supporters are not happy.

The sense of injustice is either going to spur Leicester on or lead to City taking advantage. It's a big call which the referee has gotten wrong. Aside from that, the home side will be pleased with their start. There are obvious opportunities to put Kompany under pressure.

That's better from City, who start to threaten in and around the penalty area. A couple of crosses from Sane and Sterling are dealt with, but the visitors are now in the ascendancy.

We are still waiting for our first shot on goal, but it's been a bright opening to this game. The intensity is sure to subside at some stage but for now, Leicester are matching their more illustrious opponents.

We are still awaiting goals in matches featuring title-chasing sides, but Crystal Palace and Everton have both netted in their showdown at Selhurst Park. Everton can overtake Leicester with a win today, providing that the Foxes lose out.

The quick counters are proving effect for Leicester but when they don't have the ball, you are just waiting for City to create a chance. It's only a matter of time. De Bruyne and Silva are seeing plenty of the ball.

Back come Leicester through Mahrez, who gets the better of Delph on the right flank. His resulting cross is a threatening one but Kompany gets across to make a timely intervention.

Only regular viewers of Leicester will know what minor alterations Puel has made, but there is certainly an extra bite about them. They haven't looked overawed since the first whistle and are focused on carrying out a gameplan. As it stands, they are sticking to it to the letter. Still early days, however...

Mahrez is back on the ball and terrorising Delph down the flank. Again, it comes to nothing but the intent is there. Delph looks a little out of his depth when City haven't got the ball.

SHOT! Just like that, City nearly take the lead. The ball arrived at the feet of Silva inside the penalty area and Schmeichel needs to be alert to divert his early shot over the crossbar.

LATEST! Chelsea look on their way to three points at West Bromwich Albion. Morata and Hazard have gotten on the scoresheet during the opening 23 minutes. Liverpool are level with Southampton at Anfield.

Albrighton has started to switch positions with both Mahrez and Gray and on this occasion, found himself with a chance to cross into the box. However, it's a poor delivery from the midfielder. Leicester need to take advantage of those kind of situations.

This looks like game over for Stones. The defender attempted to move to retrieve the ball but appears to have pulled his hamstring. City are going to be without both Otamendi and Stones - their two in-form centre-backs.

SUBSTITUTION! Mangala has been introduced to replace Stones. There's now pressure on Kompany not to break down in this match. This is an opening for Leicester...

We are through half-an-hour at the King Power with only that Silva shot to talk about in terms of efforts on goal, but this has still been an excellent game. Leicester look to have the right tactics for a game against City, but it is whether they can maintain it for 90 minutes.

It is probably worth remembering that even a point should be considered a good point for City this afternoon. Such is their advantage that they can afford to pick up draws on the road. They will no doubt push for three points but this is acceptable for the league leaders right now. They are happy to let Leicester do the pressing.

City began to assert a bit more pressure but it is no more than a blocked cross from Sterling and a corner from De Bruyne which is comfortably dealt with.

LATEST! Chelsea are running riot at The Hawthorns. Marcos Alonso has added a third for the Blues, and you have to think that this could be Tony Pulis's last game as head coach. His return after this game is going to be 12 points from 21 games...

LATEST! Liverpool are also ahead against Southampton, with Salah getting another two goals for the Merseyside giants. Burnley lead 2-0 against Swansea and as it stands, are moving to within a point of Spurs...

We are into the final five minutes of the first half and we are still waiting for more chances. Leicester are doing an effective job in their defensive third in order to keep City quiet.

CHANCE! City fashion a second clear-cut chance and again it is Silva who takes the eventual shot. The opportunity came about from good work from Sterling, but the Spaniard drilled the ball over the crossbar from around 20 yards out.

GOAL! Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City (Gabriel Jesus)

City have the breakthrough! Their patience is finally rewarded with a goal from Jesus, who converts from close range after good work from Sterling and Silva.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

HALF TIME: Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City

The half-time whistle goes at the King Power and that late effort from Jesus has given City the lead at the break. They probably just about deserve it based on general play but while Leicester have worked hard and threatened on the odd occasion, they are yet to have a shot on goal.

The goal came from a period of sustained possession for City. The pressure had been building during the closing stages of the first half and once Sterling fed Silva in the penalty area, the Spaniard took his chance to lay on yet another assist for a teammate this season. Jesus hasn't done much all game but he was there to add the finishing touch.

However, the turning point of the match came as early as the third minute when Kompany fouled Vardy when the forward was clean through on goal. The referee should have sent off the returning Belgian but instead, dished out a yellow. Leicester's players were understandably furious.

City suffered a blow in the first half-hour of the game as Stones had to be substituted after suffering what appeared to be a hamstring injury. The defender looks set to spend the next few weeks on the sidelines.

KICKOFF! Leicester get us back underway in the East Midlands. There have been no changes for either side.

CHANCE! How haven't Leicester scored? Mahrez is instrumental in getting the ball into the area but the eventual shot comes from Maguire, who sees his effort strike the post after Silva had cleared off the line! However, there's been a second goal...

GOAL! Leicester City 0-2 Manchester City (Kevin De Bruyne)

That's probably game over but if it is, what a way to seal three points. After Maguire's near miss, City broke straight down the other end and had three-on-two in the Leicester half. The chance would ultimately fall to De Bruyne who lashed the ball into the net from 25 yards out. It's a stunner from a stunning player.

SHOT! It's becoming a case of how many will City score. The ball is played into Jesus inside the penalty area and after some fabulous control, the Brazilian drills a shot on goal, which is superbly dealt with by Schmeichel.

SHOT! We can probably give City the title now. They now look unstoppable and they surely can't lose enough games to not win the league crown. It's Silva who gets the chance here, but directs his shot just off target. This is harsh on Leicester but they are now being thoroughly outclassed.

If City keep playing like this, Guardiola may as well rest Aguero until midweek. This is simply becoming a stroll for the visitors.

Vardy has not been that involved since his burst of pace which should have gotten Kompany sent off in the early stages. He is now taking it upon himself to try to make something happen for Leicester but it is just not happening.

We haven't spoken much of Sane this afternoon but October's Premier League player of the month is starting to weave his magic. Only a last-gasp block from a defender prevents his cross from finding its intended target in the middle.

LATEST! There have been no more goals in the games involving Liverpool, Chelsea and Burnley, who all look set to benefit from Spurs' defeat to Arsenal. It's going to be tight from second place onwards, but City are going to move 11 points clear of Spurs this afternoon.

It can't be long before Puel looks to change things up for Leicester. Some may disagree with this statement but it wouldn't be the strangest decision to withdraw Vardy and give Iheanacho or Slimani a chance. It's not really Vardy's kind of game now.

That said, Vardy almost has the ball in the net after latching onto a deflected shot from Ndidi, but his header was cleared off the line by Walker. The assistant's flag was up regardless.

SUBSTITUTION! The first change of the match sees Iheanacho gives some minutes against his former club. Albrighton is the man to make way.

LATEST! Chelsea and Liverpool have added to their respective leads against West Brom and Southampton. It's been an excellent afternoon for the chasing pack.

We are back into the rhythm of sustained City possession before the issue is eventually forced inside the penalty area. Only a corner is won and wasted on this occasion, but it's enough to keep the visitors in full control.

It won't be long before Guardiola decides to rest a couple of his attacking players given their participation elsewhere during the international break. Toure may even be able to add to the 29 minutes he has featured in the league this season.

City still want this third goal. Sane's inviting cross should lead to another chance but Leicester just about survive. The Foxes have only managed two shots in this game - both in a few seconds before the second City goal. Small margins and all that.

We haven't spoken about what this defeat for Leicester will do in terms of the table, but the Foxes could very well find themselves remaining in 12th place due to the results of the teams around them. It's not a disaster staying in the same position after a defeat to the leaders.

I'm certainly surprised by Guardiola's stance regarding the substitution of players. There's still no sign of any more changes. Perhaps the idea is to make mass changes for the Champions League meeting with Feyenoord in midweek. Ten minutes to go at the King Power and there isn't much happening.

BOOKING! Maguire becomes the first Leicester man to go into the book this afternoon after a foul. Here come more changes...

SUBSTITUTIONS! Puel makes a double change, with Mahrez and Iborra being replaced by Okazaki and Slimani.

SUBSTITUTION! Guardiola follows suit by introducing Bernardo Silva for Sterling, who has produced yet another excellent showing.

It's pass, pass, pass as far as City are concerned. There is no reason to exert themselves any more than they are already doing and that's the approach they are taking. Leicester just want this game to end now.

CHANCE! City engineer another chance for David Silva but the Spaniard again fails to beat Schmeichel, who makes a comfortable save. Silva could have had a hat-trick this afternoon.

SUBSTITUTION! A final change for City sees Gundogan replace the superb De Bruyne.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

FULL TIME: Leicester City 0-2 Manchester City

The full-time whistle has gone at the King Power Stadium and City have eased to a 2-0 win over Leicester. The second half became a bit of a non-event after De Bruyne's strike in the 49th minute, but Guardiola and his players won't care. This is their 10th successive win in the league and they now sit nine points clear. As for Leicester, they were simply outclassed.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.


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3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
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8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
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11Chelsea27116104745239
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15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

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