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.
He’s like a piece of Iron, In BOD we trust.
Good man Brian!
Brian O Driscoll is a legend. Irish Rugby wont be the same when he retires.
The best and most professional player ever to play in a green shirt. He is right too.
What an absolute legend this man is! Good on ya Drico, that you weren’t born in Limerick or Cork is all I ever disliked about ya!
Its a shame his success at international is been hindered by a poor coaching ticket.
A great player no doubt and a great ambassador for the game. is he past his prime, in my opinion yes. He is. Ronan, do you think that’s valid? would you rather not have an opinion and merely comment on the opinions of others. A whole…….
I agree he had a good game against Edinburgh. He may not have the pace of when he was younger – but his try against Treviso showed he reads a game like no one else. It has been a privilege to be able to watch him over the years.
Hope you help to deliver a third Heineken cup in a row in Landowne Road in May BOD!
He’s the Javier Zanetti of rugby!
Terrible against edinburgh. He knows well enough it’s over for him this season.thanks for the memories. Dignity is important.
The punishment that man’s body has taken is incredible. He’ll finish up in a wheelchair if he doesn’t give it up shortly.
U either didnt watch the game or ur clueless (or trolling).
Of course hes past his prime – but still has a lot to give. U said he was terrible against edinburgh. Which he clearly was not.
Yawn
Your obviously clueless or a Munster fan
He was about the only decent performer against Edinburgh. De Luca did nothing all game
The headline does not in any way reflect what O’Driscoll actually said, have just listened to the interview on Newstalk!
First few lines say that BOD has “given his strongest indications yet that he would love to stick around for another crack at World Cup success.”, but further down the man himself says: “We’ll deal with the November Series first and, hopefully if I’m still in the mix, the Six Nations next year. After that is still too far away to be considering.”
Any chance you could reconcile that a bit Patrick, because it’s fairly misleading I think?
he should do what the likes of d. o’callaghan and others do. retire. but keep playing for ireland
“Brian O’Driscoll rules out retirement and targets World Cup success.” What does success mean, daddy? Well, son, it means: 1. Qualifying. 2. Not losing to Georgia. 3. Beating England. 4. Going out at 1/4 final stage but taking heart from the fact that we have “learned a lot from this experience” and being on a “steep learning curve.” But does success not mean winning, daddy? Ah no, son. Only if you’re from New Zealand.