Involved in what was another hugely exciting affair after returning from the international break on Saturday, Manchester City managed to extend on their Premier League purple patch.
Watching Leicester lift the Community Shield at Wembley last month, the defending English champions managed to pick up some welcomed revenge on the road as they left the King Power with a 1-0 win to show for their troubles.
In a game that saw both goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Ederson make crucial saves at both ends of the pitch, the Sky Blues managed to make it three in three as Bernardo Silva popped up in the 62nd minute.
Overcoming a tough test against what was a lively Leicester side on Saturday afternoon, we have taken a look at all the key talking points.
City pick up from where they left off
Heading into September’s international break with back-to-back 5-0 romps against Norwich and Arsenal, Manchester City were desperate to keep up that momentum when they made the trip to the King Power on Saturday.
Managing to land their third straight Premier League win in Leicestershire over the weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side would have felt that they potentially could have left with more goals to their name as Gabriel Jesus was twice denied by Schmeichel.
While the defending champions might have publically missed out on their pursuit of Harry Kane over the summer, the former Barcelona boss will be hugely excited by the fact that his squad is sharing the goalscoring burden.
With new record-signing Jack Grealish once again impressing, Bernardo Silva’s second-half winner means that the Portuguese midfielder became the ninth different Manchester City player to score in the Premier League so far this season.
Flying out of the traps and eventually finishing Saturday’s meeting with 61% possession to their name, it is hard to argue that the Sky Blues were not a worthy winner on their travels.
Positives in defeat for Foxes
Enduring what has been a rollercoaster start to the 2021/22 campaign and now collecting just six points from their opening four Premier League contests, Brendan Rodgers will know that he must try and take the positives from Saturday’s display.
Returning to the King Power for the first time since the opening weekend and backed by a vocal home support of 32,087 fans, the one-time Liverpool boss saw his side put in what was a largely rugged display on home soil.
With attacking talisman Jamie Vardy seeing his strike rightfully ruled out for offside, and Harvey Barnes clipping the top of the crossbar with a header, Saturday’s hosts did have a handful of chances.
Moments after Schmeichel pulled off a point-blank save to deny Jesus, the Foxes had arguably their best opportunity of the game as Barnes failed to bundle the ball past the on-rushing Ederson with not even 10 minutes on the clock.
Full of praise for his side’s display following their 1-0 loss, Rodgers could feel that on another day his side might have left with something to show.
What’s next for both?
Speaking to the media following his side’s 1-0 win at the King Power on Saturday afternoon, it appears that the mood in Guardiola’s camp will be at a red-hot high as they turn their attention to European duties in midweek.
Flying high and desperate to draw a line under May’s 1-0 defeat against Chelsea in the Champions League final, the English heavyweights will welcome RB Leipzig, last season’s Bundesliga runners-up, to the Etihad on Wednesday night.
As for Leicester, while Rodgers will be desperate for his side to find some much-needed domestic stability, the Foxes also have their own European adventure that gets underway later in the week.
Throwing away another potential Champions League return at the final hurdle last season, Rodgers’ side open their Europa League run with what could be a mouth-water affair on home soil.
On Thursday, the Foxes will welcome Italian icons Napoli to the King Power as they look to find what could be a real morale boost.
Match Report:
Leicester: Schmeichel (7), Castagne (5.5), Söyüncü (5.5), Vestergaard (7), Bertrand (6), Tielemans (6.5), Ndidi (6), Barnes (6.5), Maddison (6), Albrighton (6), Vardy (7)
Subs: Evans (5), Iheanacho (6.5), Lookman (7)
Manchester City: Ederson (7), Walker (7), Dias (7.5), Laporte (7), Cancelo (7), Bernardo Silva (8), Gündogan (7), Rodri (7), Jesus (7), Torres (7.5), Grealish (7.5)
Subs: Fernandinho (N/A), Sterling (6.5)
Goals: Bernardo Silva 62′
Yellow Cards: Leicester: Söyüncü – Manchester City: Rodri, Laporte
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Paul Tierney
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