What a day of sport we have in store and it’s going to begin with a bang. The Premier League’s top two do battle at the Etihad Stadium with 14 games left to play this season.
Leicester lead by three at the moment. Can City reel them in today and really ignite their charge?
Here are today’s teams:
Manchester City make four changes with Fabian Delph, Raheem Sterling, Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov coming into the side. Jesus Navas, Kelechi Iheanacho, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy are the ones to drop out.
Kick-off is at 12.45 and this match is live on BT Sport.
Man City 0 Leicester 1 (Huth ’3)
Wow, what a start. Leicester won a free kick on the edge of the area. Man City looked asleep as Mahrez just stroked it low into the area and Robert Huth steered it home.
This is setting up beautifully for the neutral already.
This has started off at break-neck speed. End to end stuff, some glorious attacking play from some of the league’s best players.
Man City have looked a bit shaky at the back — Vardy’s pace, as usual, is causing serious problems.
This has been thoroughly entertaining. David Silva, what a magical man. A mazy run from the little Spaniard leaves Leicester mesmerized but Silva drags his shot just wide.
I’d be amazed if we don’t see another few goals in this one.
Man City have been getting into this a bit more and the tempo has finally eased a bit.
Schmeichel has been called into action on a couple of occasions but the Dane has looked assured in the Leicester goal. Ten minutes left in this half.
Just in case you need a reminder of how things stand, this shows how big a results this would be for Leicester. This underdog story just keeps on giving.
Leicester are happy to sit back and wait for their opportunity to counter-attack. They’ve defended well, even as City have started to lord the possession.
Kevin De Bruyne is a big absentee for City, the ideal footballer to have at your disposal when you have to chase the game.
The rain is teeming down in Manchester at the moment.
HT: Man City 0 Leicester 1
Is this the day that everyone really starts to believe Leicester City can win the league?
It’s been an excellent performance from Claudio Ranieri’s side so far — they’ve been patient, organised and dangerous on the break.
Man City have dominated possession but have struggled to break Leicester down. They’re overplaying the ball at times, always looking for the extra pass. A more direct approach would be a welcome change from them in the second half.
City have no shortage of firepower in reserve – Iheanacho will surely see action at some stage after his FA Cup hat-trick last weekend.
Man City 0 Leicester 2 (Mahrez ’48)
Pellegrini responds immediately by changing personnel. On comes Fernando for Yaya Toure. A strange one, the Ivorian star didn’t look injured.
Iheanacho on for Delph too. Game on.
YEP, you read that right.
Mahrez must be one of the greatest transfers in the history of football. The man jinks through the Man City rearguard with the delicacy of Messi and a stepover Cristiano Ronaldo would be proud of.
He beats three players before burying it in the corner with his right foot. Superb football.
I think I’m falling in love with this Leicester team — please don’t crumble and break my heart now lads.
In case you missed it, Jurgen Klopp has been struck down by a bout of appendicitis and will miss Liverpool’s 3pm clash with Sunderland this afternoon.
WHAT A SAVE — Fernando makes an immediate impact, winning a header from a corner. He directs it downwards to Schmeichel’s left but the Dane manages to steer it away with a strong leg. He’s been excellent so far today.
OH MY DAYS!!
Man City 0 Leicester 3 (Huth ’60)
Has all this Pep talk knocked City out of kilter or have Leicester just been that good? I’m going with the latter.
Huth again, the big man rises highest for a corner and loops a header back across goal into the far corner.
This is just stunning. Whatsapp is bound to break down at some point today if this continues.
Howard Webb has pointed out that it shouldn’t have even been a corner – sure look, you’ll take it anyway.
Serious kudos has to go to Claudio Ranieri for this performance. Not many teams can set up away to Manchester City and frustrate them like this.
They’ve showed great energy, discipline and organisation in defence. And that has laid the platform for the magical Mahrez and Co to do the job at the other end of the field.
CHANCE — Joe Hart saves from Jamie Vardy after a stunning ball over the top from Drinkwater. Vardy’s speed really is something else — he’ll win those deliveries into space all day.
Man City fans are miserable in the rain but nothing can dampen the spirits of the away fans right now.
Leicester are still fighting away, not giving City any time on the ball and funneling back at speed.
David Silva off now – Celina comes on for him. The Spaniard looks like he’s picked up a knock though.
Man City 1 Leicester 3 (Aguero ’87)
Sergio Aguero nicks one back for City with an excellent near-post header. Me nerves…only a minute later the Argentine is nearly in for another after a sloppy backpass. But he fires wide under pressure from Schmeichel.
FT: Manchester City 1 Leicester City 3
“You gotta roll with it
You gotta take your time
You gotta say what you say
Don’t let anybody get in your way.”
Noel Gallagher’s voice echoes around an emptying Etihad and his words sum up where Leicester are at right now. There’s no sign of nosebleeds yet, still 13 games to play but boy, they’ve given themselves such a great opportunity to win the Premier League.
Absolutely incredible stuff.
To be fair Rena Buckley has 16 All Ireland medals between Gaelic football & Camogie stating she has won “several” All Ireland’s does not convey the magnitude of her achievements she has won the same amount of medals as Briege Corkery
Stephanie Roche doesn’t even make the irish team and should not be on this list
No room for kieran donnachy?? A real whinging oul one
Christina McMahon fights in Mexico on Saturday for the Superfly Champion of the world title. Definitely deserves a place on this list.
Also, sorry, I don’t know who Annalise Murphy is but from your article I’m not exactly sure what sport she plays.
One of the worlds top sailors
What about Easky Britton? ..5 times Irish surf champ and also first Irish woman to ever surf in Iran
First Irish woman to surf in Iran?!?!? That hotbed of surfing
Unreal how there was exactly 42 of them!
Nina Carberry at 38. I just hope this list is in no particular order. Because If it is. That’s disgraceful
You’re right in suspecting it’s in no particular order, Michael.
Mick, riding a horse isn’t a sport. The horse does all the work. She shouldn’t be there.
Gary – explain how when a horse is jockey less after a fall that horse almost never wins? It’s cos the jockey is capable of getting more from a horse once it becomes tired, ridiculous comment.
Yeah, hitting a horse with a whip to make it run faster really does mark someone out as a top sportsperson
Missed out on sisters Isobel and Cecilia Joyce from the Irish Cricket Team – currently competing at the World T20 Championships
Agreed and Kim Garth
I’m confused by the title. Are they currently Irish or what? Makes my head hurt. Briggs is a legend!!!
They’re currently competing. Hence the absence of the retired likes of Sonia O’Sullivan et al.
What about Pauline Curley?
Maybe use the key word competing the next time. It’d be a bit clearer.
Ah come on…current 2 in a row World Handball Champion Aisling Reilly not on this list.
Gráinne Doyle. Basketball. Senior League & cup double, twice with . Defeating Katie Taylor and others to 2014 her.ie sports woman of the year.
Ah lads, we know the Rugby lads are the media darlings but I see now it extending to the ladies. No doubt the ladies game has come on in a big way but it was coming from a very very low base. Kerry ladies footballer Louise Galvin made the 6 nations squad a few years back after playing a handful rugby of games and taking it up some time in her 20′s. That gives an indication of the standard.
Talking the talk and about your mental strength on the RTE chat shows doesn’t make you the greatest athlete. There are 20 ladies playing gaelic and soccer for every one playing rugby. The ladies GAA scene is highly competitive at club and county level with huge number participating. Does Brige Corkery have to get a chat show appearance to brag about how professional and mentally tough she is to get recognition? All she cares about is competing and winning.
It’s more laughable to put Briggs ahead of double European cross country champion Fionnuala McCormack or Katie Taylor really puts the tin had on this list.
The odds of top athletes being in women’s rugby are minuscule. I have no problem with rugby, I’ve played it before the media started fawning over it we just need a bit of prospective here.
The highest placed ladies soccer player is a lady who got an amazing goal but can’t make the Irish team. Those keeping her out of the team don’t feature.
Such a list should be comprised based on substance not hype. This is all about the hype.
Should read Gráinne Dwyer
Paul,how could you forget this girl.Won leagues,cups,player of the year,fans player of the year,coaches player of the year,players player of the year,and still only 22.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/video-denise-osullivan-hailed-as-a-hometown-star-at-evening-echo-awards-311232.html
I’m sure there are plenty of similarly talented athletes not mentioned above, Padraig. Think of the list as a conversation starter rather than a definitive compilation of the best female athletes in Ireland.
What about the women’s Irish darts team? Some of those lads are seriously talented
I’ve heard of 7 of them.
Ah lads! Aisling Reilly has to make this list! Irish/World number 1 female handballer, 2 time senior world champion and who knows how many Senior All Ireland titles!
She’d have more all Ireland medals than they have in Kerry!
Has to be on the list.
What about Cathy Gannon……possibly the only professional female jockey were have
What about Jenny Egan from Canoeing-European Bronze Medalist; 4th place at European Games Baku; 6th place at World championships; 4th at World Marathon championships-all in the 2015 season…..who complied this list!!!??
Judy Reynolds has broken five Irish records in dressage over the last year. At the weekend she broke 2 of them again to qualify a place for Ireland in the 2016 Olympic Games.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/horse-sport-ireland-await-verdict-on-rio-places-for-individual-riders-1.2563042
prob worth inclusion.
Boxer Christina Mc Mahon should be listed! FACT
The Irish Women’s cricket team currently in India at T20 World Cup Finals?
Pity for them that none of them would get near some of the worst male athletes in the world in the same sports.
Equestrian sport is the only Olympic discipline where males and females compete in the same classes on the horses they’ve worked their asses off to train to that level.
This list is incredibley biased and shows a complete lack of knowledge of women in sport. In this year Ireland will send a full team to the European Championships in Norway for weightlifting. The standard is incredible with some Olympic prospects for the first time in history and none of these phenomenal athletes get a look in? What about 3 x Irelands fittest woman who represented Ireland at the Crossfit games.
Bit harsh there Brendan. I would disagree with it being “incredibly biased”. It’s decently accurate including athletes from a vast array of different disciplines. Granted there are omissions, but it would seem the author wants feedback and is willing to make amendments. There was a time that female athletes wouldn’t have been thought of for such a post! I’m glad they’re getting deserved publicity.
Haha ah yes the famous “crossfit athletes”!
What about Pitch & Putt? Chrissie Byrne and Marion Courtney
Pitch & putt lmao
Haha ah yes the famous “crossfit athletes”!
What about that conor mcgregor bitch?
Ciara Mageen 42nd and well behind a number of other athletes. You must be joking. Did anyone actually check the Rio Olympic qualified list as a starting point?
How about Geraldine Finnagen she holds more irish records in the Master then any other person. And has also won Master world titles currently rant 6th in the world for the pethalon?
Megan Connolly! A young irish sportstar doing her country proud!