A curling cross is fired into the middle of the City penalty area and manages to pick out Vardy, who gets his head on the ball but can only nod it straight into the hands of Ederson in the centre of the goal.
90'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by P. Foden.
GOAL! What a strike by Aguero! Foden breaks towards the Leicester box before spinning and picking out Aguero. The Argentine immediately unleashes an absolute stunner of a shot from 20 yards out that flies past Schmeichel and finds the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar. That was world-class!
Foden has certainly enjoyed himself since coming off the substitutes' bench, and he now has an assist to his name after showing good understanding with Aguero. City fans will certainly be pleased.
89'
H. Maguire gets yellow.
De Bruyne picks up the ball out wide and quickly tries to knock it down the flank and into the path of Aguero. He's unable to do so, though, as he's clattered into from behind by Maguire and sent crashing to the floor, resulting in a booking for the centre-back.
87'
Leicester win themselves a free-kick in a decent position over on the left flank, but instead of launching the ball into the box, they instead decide to play it over to Fuchs. The Austrian is closed down quickly and then has to work the ball back to Albrighton, who crosses but sends a poor pass straight into the hands of Ederson.
85'
Sterling breaks into the left-hand side of the Leicester penalty area and does well to latch onto a poked pass from Aguero, but the linesman's flag is raised as soon as the winger is about to pull the trigger.
83'
J. Vardy gets yellow.
Aymeric Laporte gets yellow.
Meanwhile, Vardy is also booked by the referee.
Laporte is quickly shown a yellow card for his part in the fracas.
There's a slight coming together between Vardy and Laporte, but it's quickly brought to an end by the referee as the two players square up. Vardy seemed to catch the defender slightly late, which resulted in the Frenchman reacting angrily to what he saw as a deliberate act.
81'
J. Stones enters the game and replaces N. Otamendi.
And now Otamendi has made way for Stones at the back.
80'
P. Foden enters the game and replaces Fernandinho.
City have made their second alteration of the night, with Foden coming on to replace Fernandinho.
79'
Leicester push forward from the restart and win themselves a free-kick midway inside the City half of the pitch. It's poorly executed and rolls out for a throw-in, however, which rather sums up their night.
77'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City!
GOAL! What a costly mistake by Schmeichel! The goalkeeper's distribution hasn't been great this evening, and he's now made the evening even more miserable for his side. The ball should be easily cleared by the Dane, but he ends up poking the ball straight to Aguero, allowing the Argentine to chip the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net to make it 4-1.
Minute
Description
76'
Aguero breaks into the right-hand side of the Leicester box and shoots, but Maguire is there to deflect the ball behind for a corner. The set-piece eventually finds its way over to Otamendi, who unleashes a volleyed strike that sails straight into the hands of Schmeichel.
74'
No, they can't. Albrighton's cross into the penalty area is a decent one but can't quite find a team-mate in front of goal. Maguire does well to stop the ball from bouncing behind for a goal-kick, however, but his cross-cum-shot ends up hitting the side-netting instead of picking out either Vardy or Iheanacho.
73'
İ. Gündoğan gets yellow.
And now Gundogan has entered the referee's book after cynically dragging down Mahrez from behind as he Algerian sprinted forward on a quick counter-attack. Can Leicester make the free-kick count?
71'
W. Ndidi gets yellow.
It's taken just over 70 minutes, but the referee has finally been forced into reaching for his yellow card. It's Ndidi who finds himself on the receiving end after catching Gundogan with a poor challenge.
70'
Not far away by Bernardo Silva! The Leicester defence back off and allow the Portuguese to dart towards the edge of the box, where he unleashes a curling strike that flies just a few yards wide of the far post.
69'
A slightly misplaced pass from De Bruyne can only find Mahrez, allowing Leicester to quickly counter-attack. The visitors aren't able to make the opportunity count, however, as Simpson's pass down the right wing can only find Danilo.
67'
Vital interception by Maguire! Really good play by Sterling and De Bruyne results in the latter poking a pass towards Gundogan, who looks set to shoot from the near post but has the ball poked away from him by Maguire at the last possible moment.
65'
Danilo enters the game and replaces O. Zinchenko.
City have made a switch of their own, with Zinchenko making way for Danilo.
64'
Good play by Sterling deep down the left wing sets up Gundogan to tee up Aguero on the edge of the box. The Argentine charges into the penalty area and shoots, but, from a slightly tight angle, he can't quite hit the target.
62'
K. Ịheanachọ enters the game and replaces B. Chilwell.
R. Mahrez enters the game and replaces F. Diabaté.
And the second is Iheanacho, who is also cheered by the City supporters as he takes the place of Chilwell and makes his first return to the Etihad.
Leicester have made a double substitution as they try to find a way back into the game. The first player to come on is Mahrez, who receives a rousing - and slightly sarcastic - reception from the home fans as he replaces Diabate.
60'
Sloppy play from City on the edge of their own penalty area allows Vardy to pick up the ball and knock it over to Diabate. The forward quickly tries to poke a pass into the box, but it's closed down well and can't quite pick out a black shirt in front of goal.
58'
The resulting set-piece is swung into the heart of the box and manages to pick out Otamendi, who rises high above his marker but can't quite hit the target with his downward header.
57'
Chance for Gundogan to make it 4-1! Sterling skips into the penalty area as City keep causing problems for the Leicester back line. He then cuts a clever pass back to Gundogan, who quickly shoots but sends a deflected strike over the crossbar and behind for a corner.
55'
Gundogan picks up the ball over on the left wing and quickly weaves his way into the penalty area, where he takes on Dragovic and wins the hosts a corner. It fails to result in a chance on goal, however, as Leicester have enough bodies back to deal with the danger.
53'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by K. De Bruyne.
Once again, De Bruyne was involved in the thick of the action and has picked up yet another assist. The Belgian has caused all sorts of problems for the Leicester defence, and he doesn't look like he's finished just yet.
GOAL! There it is! Sloppy play by Leicester deep inside their own half of the pitch allows De Bruyne to latch onto the ball and knock it over to Aguero, who has no problems beating Schmeichel from inside the box to make it 3-1.
52'
Leicester did really well to fight back after going behind early on, but they aren't showing the same sort of fight and desire that they did in the first half. City are continuing to cause their visitors all sorts of problems as they try to increase their lead with a third goal.
50'
Sterling goes down inside the box, but nothing is given! The winger dances his way into the penalty area and looks set to shoot, but he tangles with Albrighton before he's able to do so. He immediately screams for a penalty, but the referee isn't interested and waves play on.
48'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by K. De Bruyne.
GOAL! It's 2-1 to City! De Bruyne skips into the left-hand side of the Leicester box and plays a lovely one-two with Sterling. He then fizzes a lovely pass over to the far post, where Aguero comfortably knocks it into the back of the net from close range.
De Bruyne has been in excellent form today, and that pass was another brilliant one that completely caught out the Leicester back line before perfectly finding its target.
47'
Vardy almost manages to latch onto another quick lofted pass as he darts through the middle of the Leicester back line, but his run forward is slightly mistimed and the linesman's flag is raised just as the striker loses out to Laporte.
46'
D. Simpson enters the game and replaces Adrien Silva.
Leicester have made one substitution during the half-time break, with Adrien Silva making way for Simpson.
We're underway once again!
45' +1
City push forward on one final attacking move before the half-time break as they try to find a way in front once again, but, despite doing well to carve out a chance on goal, they're unable to do so as a rather tame effort from Gundogan is comfortably held by Schmeichel.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be just one minute of added time.
43'
Walker darts down the right wing and looks set to cross, but he isn't quite able to do so and instead wins a free-kick for his side after being barged to the ground. The hosts can't make the set-piece count, however, as the ball is eventually collected by Schmeichel after a few nervy moments.
41'
What a chance for Sterling to double City's lead! A wonderful pass from De Bruyne catches out Maguire and picks out Sterling inside the box. The winger rounds Schmeichel and quickly shoots, but Dragovic throws his body in the way of the ball to stop it from finding the back of the net.
39'
Diabate, who has struggled to get into the game today, does well to muscle his way through a group of City players before playing a one-two with Vardy. He then tries to shoot from the edge of the box, but he has the ball poked away from him before he's able to do so.
37'
Sterling is clumsily fouled by Ndidi as he makes his way towards the visitors' penalty area, and City are awarded a free-kick in a promising position. De Bruyne's cross is a great one and goes close to finding Otamendi, but it sails just past the defender's outstretched foot and into the hands of Schmeichel.
35'
Sterling runs into Dragovic on the edge of the Leicester box and is quickly dispossessed, allowing the visitors to counter-attack. A lofted pass is fired forward from Ndidi and almost finds Vardy, but Ederson is there to knock it away from the striker.
33'
De Bruyne pops up on the left flank and immediately sprints into the penalty area. He carves out a pocket of space for himself and shoots, but Schmeichel is equal to his effort and can push it behind for a corner.
31'
Zinchenko wins the ball for his side over on the left wing and quickly bursts towards the edge of the box. He does well to tee up Sterling, who goes down under a tackle from Dragovic as he tries to spin round the Austrian. A few fans appeal for a penalty, but the referee isn't at all interested and allows play to go on.
29'
The set-piece initially fails to result in a chance on goal, but the home side come back once again. A low cross is punched away by Schmeichel but only as far as Sterling, who tees up Fernandinho to unleash a thumping shot that the Leicester goalkeeper does well to stop.
28'
Lovely play by Bernardo Silva! The Portuguese dances his way into the right-hand side of the visitors' penalty area as he easily skips past Fuchs. He then tries to test Schmeichel at the near post, but Maguire sticks out a foot to deflect the strike behind for a corner.
26'
An attempted City attacking move fails to come to anything, allowing Leicester to counter-attack once again. James fires a lofted pass up towards the box and into the path of Vardy, but Ederson reads the flight of the ball well and is there to nod it away from the onrushing striker.
24'
J. Vardy has scored a goal for Leicester City!
GOAL! Leicester have equalised! Vardy picks up the ball in the middle of the pitch and immediately bursts forward on a great run. He skips past both Zinchenko and Gundogan before taking on Laporte, who sticks out a leg but can't stop the striker's low shot from beating Ederson on its way into the back of the net.
23'
After dealing with the danger, the hosts quickly break away on a counter-attack. De Bruyne and Sterling link up nicely before the latter sets up Aguero, who bursts into the box but loses out to Fuchs.
22'
After a difficult opening 22 minutes, Leicester are finally able to push forward on a decent attacking move. Albrighton's cross towards Diabate is overhit but finds Chilwell, who then forces Fernandinho into nodding the ball behind for a corner that City do well to deal with.
21'
Aguero breaks into the visitors' box as City push forward once again. He then cuts inside and tries to tee up Sterling, but a poor final pass lets the Argentine down and Leicester are just about able to deal with the danger.
19'
Bernardo Silva twists and turns deep down the right flank as he tries to find a way past Chilwell. It eventually looks as if the Portuguese is going to be able to beat the wing-back and head into the penalty area, but Chilwell does well to close him down and force the ball into ricocheting out of play for a goal-kick.
17'
A long pass is fired into the left-hand side of the Leicester box and looks set to roll behind for a goal-kick, but Sterling does really well to stop it from doing so. He then tries to pick out De Bruyne with a fizzing pass across the face of goal, but Schmeichel is there to tip the ball away from the Belgian.
15'
Now it's Aguero's turn to try and weave his way through the Leicester back line. He gets the better of two defenders before trying to get a shot away, but he has the ball poked away from him at the vital moment and isn't able to do so.
13'
A good pass from Fernandinho finds Aguero in acres of space and sets up the Argentine to burst towards the box. He then works the ball over to Sterling, who tries to barge his way through a sea of black shirts but can't quite get a shot away at the near post.
11'
Leicester push forward once again as they try to carve out a first chance on goal. This time it's a looping cross that's fired into the box from deep down the right wing, but once again Ederson is there to collect the ball ahead of the onrushing Vardy.
9'
A lofted pass is fired deep into the City half of the pitch and towards the edge of the hosts' penalty area, where Vardy is lurking. The striker tries his best to latch onto the ball but can't quite do so, as Ederson is there to skip in front of the forward and onto the ball with a cool first touch.
7'
Walker receives the ball in a pocket of space over on the right flank and quickly whips a wonderful cross into the middle of the box. Aguero rises high and looks set to reach the ball, but it sails just over the Argentine and over to the opposite wing.
5'
City quickly regain possession from the restart and push forward once again as they try to hit Leicester on another determined attack, but it fails to result in a chance on goal and Ndidi is fouled as he tries to quickly break away.
3'
R. Sterling has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by K. De Bruyne.
De Bruyne's cross was a brilliantly placed one, but Leicester arguably should have done better defensively. They let the ball reach Sterling far too easily, and Albrighton, operating as a wing-back today, was caught out by the smart movement of the former Liverpool man.
GOAL! What a start for the home side! City immediately go on the front foot and grab an early lead. De Bruyne whips a lovely bouncing cross through a sea of black shirts and over to the far post, where Sterling beats Albrighton and knocks the ball into the back of the net from just a few yards out.
1'
We're off! City get us underway, attacking from left to right.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Premier League game between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The gruelling nature of City’s non-stop campaign looks as if it’s starting to take its toll on their players, leaving them, in the words of Kevin De Bruyne, “feeling rubbish” and in need of a rest. The runaway Premier League leaders host Leicester looking to get back to winning ways after being held to a draw by Burnley in a game that, earlier in the season, they arguably would have put to bed without much trouble at all.
City’s players were sent off for a four-day break this week, and Pep Guardiola will be hoping they come back refreshed and ready to continue their quest for a historic quadruple. Despite their recent tiredness, the Citizens still remain 13 points clear of nearest challengers Manchester United, and even though Guardiola has claimed otherwise, it looks as if the fight for the Premier League title is already done and dusted.
Leicester head into today’s clash not only prepared to take on one of the finest sides in Europe but also the club that almost poached their star performer during the January transfer window. Riyad Mahrez is yet to feature for the Foxes since a move to City collapsed, but the Algerian has been named on the substitutes’ bench today and will be eager to show Guardiola what he’s missing if he comes on.
His current employers will certainly be hoping he’s able to put in a positive performance. A dip in form suffered at the end of 2017 was partially reversed at the start of the new year, but they have just one win from their last four league outings after being held to a draw by a stubborn Swansea City side last weekend. It’s left them marginally in front of Everton, and just one point behind Burnley in the battle for seventh place.
It was a relatively straight-forward victory for City the last time these two sides met in the league, but it wasn’t quite as easy for the Citizens in the EFL Cup little under two months ago. Leicester took them all the way to penalties in their quarter-final clash only for Jamie Vardy and Mahrez to fluff their lines, and the Foxes have certainly proved themselves to be tricky customers whenever these two sides meet.
There’s just under 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up today…
Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan; Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling.
Leicester City XI (3-5-2): Kasper Schmeichel; Aleksandar Dragovic, Harry Maguire, Christian Fuchs; Marc Albrighton, Matty James, Wilfred Ndidi, Adrien Silva, Ben Chilwell; Fousseni Diabate, Jamie Vardy.
Manchester City substitutes: Claudio Bravo, Danilo, Vincent Kompany, John Stones, Phil Foden, Brahim Diaz, Lukas Nmecha.
Leicester City substitutes: Eldin Jakupovic, Yohan Benalouane, Danny Simpson, Vicente Iborra, Riyad Mahrez, Kelechi Iheanacho.
Pep Guardiola has decided to make two changes to the City side that drew away to Burnley last weekend, with Laporte and Zinchenko coming into the starting line-up to replace Kompany and Danilo.
Meanwhile, Leicester boss Claude Puel has also made two alterations to the team that featured in their last outing, with Simpson and Iheanacho making way for Chilwell and James as they switch to a three-man defence.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 LEICESTER CITY
City enjoyed the perfect start when Sterling fired them into the lead with just three minutes on the clock, but Leicester did wel to fight back and deservedly head into the break with the scoreline at 1-1. Vardy has caused problems on the break, and despite the hosts enjoying the majority of possession, the game remains an evenly fought one that could go either way.
The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half.
FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 5-1 LEICESTER CITY
Leicester made a fight of the contest after coming from behind in the first half, but they crumbled after the break and found themselves on the receiving end of an absolute thumping. City were sensational once again, and today's comfortable victory has seen them open up a 16-point gap over nearest challengers Manchester United. That's exactly what they needed after last weekend's disappointing draw.
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