Manchester City surpassed Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, after Kevin de Bruyne’s world-class free kick.
Brendan Rodgers had clearly set up his team to contain the reigning champions, and it had worked effectively until De Bruyne curled a magnificent 25-yard strike into the top corner four minutes after half-time.
City’s dominance was rewarded with De Bruyne’s goal, despite missing the killer touch of the absent Erling Haaland, who has been suffering from a fever and a foot injury.
Leicester almost broke out of their defensive shell when Youri Tielemans hit a volley from a corner that Manchester City keeper Ederson turned on to the bar, but they lacked the attacking intent and quality to test Pep Guardiola’s side.
Arsenal can reclaim first place with a win over Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but Manchester City are back in the position that has become so familiar in recent years.
The goals of Haaland have been the main storyline surrounding Manchester City’s season thus far, but the brilliant Norwegian was absent due to illness and injury, which forced him to leave at half-time against former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek.
It was an opportunity to see how Manchester City made up for his absence, and in the first half, when Leicester City simply sat back and let the champions attack with the occasional counter-attacking threat of their own, Haaland’s sheer physical presence and air of menace would have been a welcome addition to their attacking efforts.
Leicester were never going to come out firing against this potent Manchester City team, but after the disappointing narrow loss, there must be a sense that they have been too risk-averse for far too long.
Ref: BBC
