Man City 2, Leicester 5, positives and negatives, player ratings, and match report

Brendan Rodgers made a big decision when he included Daniel Amartey in the starting line-up, did start in a 3-5-2, but could also be seen as a 5-4-1 or even a 5-5 as the Leicester City team went back to a well known formula from the 2015/16 season, trying to defend and counter attack, of course something pacy people like Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy would be perfect for.

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But what should end as a new and fantastic fairy story of a football game, started far from it, with a Leicester City team sitting down inside their own penalty box and totally forgetting former fox Riyad Mahrez who scored after just four minutes, unmarked on a corner, firing a shot into the net with great power and direction.

Brendan Rodgers has not been very effective with his tactics against the better teams as many points have been dropped against those top sides, and it looks as if he would see another defeat in his eyes also this time, but with Jamie Vardy you never now, he can change things on his own as we all would become witnesses to this Sunday afternoon.

Vardy is taken down inside the penalty box after 37 minutes and he is not affected by that at all and converts the penalty shot into a great goal, firing the ball into net with great power. Leicester City are equal and as Man City struggles to get through the Leicester City defensive wall, they are taking more and more risks, with Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy getting the space they love.

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Going out second half Leicester City and manager Brendan Rodgers might have seen what is coming and the perfect formula is just to sit back and wait for Man City to do their mistakes and everything becomes ecstatic when Timothy Castagne makes a perfect pass with Jamie Vardy flicking the ball behind his legs and into the goal with perfection, what a stunning goal and Leicester City are 2-1 up.

Just minutes later it’s time again for a new goal, as Jamie Vardy again is taken down in the penalty area, and again converts form the penalty spot, it’s unbelievable Leicester City are 3-1 up away to Manchester City, but as we all know we have seen it before.

To be able to keep a player like James Maddison on the bench and use him just for the final part of the game is a privilege few or almost no other manager have, but it was such a day, and when James comes on for Dennis Praet he just wants to play his part and few minutes after entering the field he curl a ball into the right top corner from far outside the penalty box with Man City’s goalkeeper missing that one totally.

Man City hits one back a few minutes later, but Maddison needs more satisfaction and when he is taken down inside the penalty box he just lets Youri Tielemans take the penalty and his shot is placed perfectly and then everything is settled, 5-2.

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What a game and what a performance against a Man City team that fell for it and was trapped in a tactical genius act by Brendan Rodgers, this time being perfect in his decision making and if he continues to hit bulls eye and makes the most out of the players he got, he will be in with a very interesting season.

This result is something so strong that you start dreaming again, and at the moment top of the table, all nine possible points picked up, a great goal difference and just again so perfect, what looked like a desperate act turned out as a brilliant peace of work, a big salute to Brendan Rodgers, skipping his ball possession ideas for a game against a team that love to have the ball, taking advantage and using the strengths of the squad, perfect from Brendan Rodgers, fantastic.

• Positives
  • Everything, it’s just a fairy story of a game
  • Daniel Amartey, where did that come from
  • Nampalys Mendy, what a hero
  • Jamie Vardy, just brilliant what a man, fantastic that’s you
  • Perfection of a World class tactical act by Brendan Rodgers
  • A lovely colour, burgunder
  • Counter attack of excellence, only 28% possession, scoring 5, magic
  • Great tribute from James Maddison, showing the last respect for the Leicester City doctor who had passed away
• Negatives:
  • Letting in an early goal
  • Letting Riyad Mahrez score

• Player Ratings: Schmeichel 8, Castagne 9, Justin 7, Soyuncu 9, Evans 8, Amartey 8, Mendy 9, Praet 7, Barnes 8, Vardy 10, Tielemans 9 Subs: Maddison 9, Fuchs, Iheanacho

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• Leicester City, Man of the Match
  • Jamie Vardy

Match Stats (H/A):

• Possession: 72 / 28
• Corners: 1 / 7
• Shots on target: 2 / 4
• Fouls: 5 / 8