Manchester City entertained Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium earlier this evening hoping to pick up maximum points at home. The Mancunian giants made a bright start to the game and scored an early goal courtesy of Riyad Mahrez’s world-class finish in the fourth minute. However, the Foxes found the leveller in 37th minute via Jamie Vardy’s successful penalty. Both clubs went into the half-time break with nothing to split them.
The East Midlands outfit managed to get themselves ahead in the contest when Vardy struck again in the 54th minute. The English striker wasn’t done and completed his hattrick just four minutes later from another spot-kick. James Maddison came off the bench to score a peach of a goal in the 77th minute. However, Nathan Ake got a goal back for Man City via his header from close range. Youri Tielemans put the icing on the cake in the dying embers of the contest via the penalty spot. The match ended with Pep Guardiola’s men suffering a disappointing and humiliating 5-2 loss at home.
Let’s take a look at how each Man City player performed during the contest versus the Foxes.
GK: Ederson – 5/10
The Brazilian keeper had an unusual evening as he ended up conceding five goals during the game. He will be desperate to put this defeat behind him.
RB: Kyle Walker – 5/10
The English right-back gave away a cheap penalty in the first half. However, he used his pace to make a few recovering runs at the back and was a threat going forward.
CB: Eric Garcia – 5/10
He gave away a penalty as well and was also at fault for allowing Maddison too much time and space in the lead-up to Leicester’s fourth goal. To his credit, Garcia made a few crucial interceptions, but it wasn’t enough in the end.
CB: Nathan Ake – 5/10
The ex-Bournemouth defender found it challenging to keep track of Vardy’s pacy runs on the counter. He was also caught napping in the lead-up Vardy’s second goal. However, Ake got a goal back with a well-placed header from close range.
LB: Benjamin Mendy – 3/10
He made some poor defensive errors throughout the 90 minutes and was also guilty of giving away a needless penalty in the latter stages of the contest.
CM: Fernandinho – 5/10
The Brazilian had a good game in the first half but was too slow to read the danger in the second.
CM: Rodri – 4.5/10
He failed to stop the Leicester counter-attacks in what was a lacklustre display at the centre of the park. Overall, it was a tough outing for him at the Etihad Stadium.
RW: Riyad Mahrez – 6/10
The Algerian winger scored a brilliant goal with his weaker foot to open the goal-scoring. However, he found it hard to get himself involved in the final third after his goal early in the game.
CAM: Kevin De Bruyne – 6.5/10
The Belgian midfield ace tried to make things happen in the opposition half and created some promising chances. However, he ended the match without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts.
LW: Phil Foden – 4/10
The youngster had a poor game as he gave away the ball cheaply without cooking up anything of note in the attacking third.
ST: Raheem Sterling – 5/10
The English winger tried to make things happen but never looked like he had a goal in him.
Substitutes:
ST: Liam Delap – 6/10
He hit the woodwork with his header and was unfortunate not to score after coming off the bench.
RW: Ferran Torres – 5/10
He offered very little after coming on for the final quarter of the game.
