Man city vs Leicester city highlights
Watch man city vs Leicester city highlights as Haaland double scores double on the match with Leicester city in the premier league meeting at Etihad stadium.
Manchester City’s early goal glut secured a 3-1 win over Dean Smith’s Leicester at the Etihad Stadium that closes the gap on leaders Arsenal to three points.
John Stones opened the scoring early on before two further first-half goals from Erling Haaland, the first from the penalty spot and the second set up by Kevin De Bruyne, settled the result before the break. Haaland has now scored 32 Premier League goals – two shy of the record.
Pep Guardiola, able to withdraw Haaland at half-time, can be rather more optimistic given that this was Manchester City 10th win in a row in all competitions, even if his substitutions did disrupt their rhythm. They go to Munich in midweek with their hopes of a treble intact.
Ndidi’s weak challenge on De Bruyne allowed the Belgian to play in Haaland for another and at that point, Leicester had shown so little resilience, their fragile confidence seeming to have disappeared entirely, the new coach would surely have been fearing a damaging rout.
Smith can take comfort in what followed, Iheanacho’s close-range finish almost being followed by another goal only to see his attempt come back off the post. That late response gives Leicester something to cling to for the challenges ahead, starting at home to Wolves next weekend.
“It’s always tricky after the Champions League against a team who is fighting but the quality is there,” Guardiola on the interview. “We started really well with focus but when you make lots of substitutions you drop a little bit. It’s three points and we move to the next one.
“It was completely different because the guys that start the second half it was the same approach as the beginning. I have a little bit of experience to play in three days in the important stages and you make a lot of substitutions and some dynamics we have and some players don’t. And when the game was under control we made the changes.
Haaland on the league journey
There is no feeling quite like the feeling when a Manchester City attack is developing, De Bruyne has the ball at his feet and there is space behind in which Haaland can run. You know he will be one-on-one with the goalkeeper. It would be more curious if he managed to miss.
There is an old saying about death and taxes but some people like to think they can cheat both. Haaland is inevitable. Thirty-two Premier League goals. Forty-seven for City in all competitions. His race now is with Dixie Dean, he of the cigarette cards, and a 95-year-old record of 60 goals.
Leicester would have welcomed only having to endure him for half of their visit to the Etihad, but not the manner of it – hooked at half-time because any fear of dropping points had long since disappeared. Haaland will be able to start every game if he wins them early. Look out, world.
Pep Guardiola on postmatch interview
Pep Guardiola said, “We started really well with focus but when you make lots of substitutions you drop a little bit. It’s three points and we move to the next one.
“It was completely different because the guys that start the second half it was the same approach as the beginning. I have a little bit of experience to play in three days in the important stages and you make a lot of substitutions and some dynamics we have and some players don’t. And when the game was under control we made the changes.
“Of course it was worrying – we made a mistake and then they had the chance with Maddison and Kelechi. The game was tricky in the last 15 minutes. But the first 60 to 65 minutes was good.”
