Man City Go 6 Points Clear

Manchester City survived a scare but ran out 6-3 victors in a Boxing Day classic against Leicester as Pep Guardiola’s team moved six points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

The hosts raced into a 4-0 lead inside 25 minutes but Brendan Rodgers tweaked his system at the break and Leicester sensationally got the game back to 4-3 after three goals in 10 minutes, but two late City goals took the game back in their favour.

Kevin De Bruyne got things rolling after five minutes before Riyad Mahrez scored from the spot on 14 minutes. Two more goals followed before the 25th minute as Ilkay Gundogan and a Raheem Sterling penalty put City in a seemingly unassailable lead.

But Leicester came roaring back when James Maddison, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho scored three quickfire goals after the break to leave the Premier League leaders a little panicked.

Ayermic Laporte eased those nerves by heading home for 5-3 before some more poor defending from Leicester from a set-piece allowed Sterling to poke home from close range.

City have now won their last nine Premier League games, scoring 30 goals in the process.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola: “The game was open even at 4-0, it was not closed. They are a big club with quality. Second half they changed the shape.

“We know the quality they have in the build-up, when Maddison can play and Tielemans can play and Kelechi and Lookman, the last six Premier League games we won five but so so difficult.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers: “It was a difficult start to the game for us, really disappointed with the penalty, really soft, so that was frustrating. We came in at half-time, the scoreline for me didn’t reflect the game. We had eight shots, they had nine, but we were 4-0 down. We were in a tough position, but we make a change, and then we challenge the players in the second half to win the second half, bring us closer to their goals, we have to show the mentality and character that is in this team.”