Leicester City’s dogged resolve was undone by a stunning Kevin De Bruyne free-kick which earned Manchester City three points and a place atop the Premier League table on Saturday lunchtime.
Brendan Rodgers outlined the key to keeping out City pre-game. “It’s all about denying space,” he explained. “If the space is there, they’ll exploit it.” Adhering to their manager’s instructions, Leicester were quick to drop into a compact 5-4-1 off the ball, narrowing any gaps between the lines.
Limiting the Haaland-less visitors to snatched glimpses of their goal in the opening quarter, Leicester grew in confidence, picking their moments to creep out of the huddled rear-guard.
However, it would be grossly misleading to suggest that the first half was anything other than a one-sided contest – quite literally. 80% of every pass played in the first 45 minutes took place in Leicester’s half.
Manchester City shuffled through a raft of approaches in a bid to tease open the stitching of Leicester’s shape. Switching the ball from one flank to the other, bombarding the box with runners from deep, tiptoeing forward with intricate, eye-of-the-needle passing.
Ultimately, it took a truly sensational free-kick from De Bruyne to break the deadlock within five minutes of the restart. Lining up his sights 25 yards from goal, the Belgian swatted his boot through the middle of the ball, sending it on a vicious, dipping trajectory which clanked off the upright before nestling in the net.
Youri Tielemans almost fired Leicester level with an immediate rebuttal. The midfielder connected sweetly with James Maddison’s corner but was denied a spectacular volley by the crossbar and Ederson’s fingertips.
Aside from a quick flurry swiftly after falling behind, Leicester scuttled back into their shape, content to let the visitors circulate possession in front of their box for long spells of the second half.
Rodgers gambled with the introduction of Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka for the final 20 minutes, shifting his side several metres up the pitch and unsettling City’s underworked backline.
The substitute duo both forced Ederson into late saves but City held on to their slender advantage as De Bruyne proved the difference in the absence of the injured Erling Haaland.
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