Leicester vs Man City LIVE: Result and reaction as Haaland ends goal drought in vital City win
Manchester City ended their five-game winless run as Pep Guardiola celebrated victory in his 500th game in charge with a 2-0 success at Leicester City.
Savinho’s first-half goal and an Erling Haaland header after the break earned a much-needed three points for the faltering champions at the King Power Stadium.
It was just their second Premier League victory since the end of October, but the frailties of the last two months – where they lost nine of their previous 13 matches – were still on show.
Leicester provided a stern test and might feel they could have got something out of the match as Facundo Buonanotte hit the post and Jamie Vardy missed a key chance at 1-0 down. The Foxes have now lost four in a row and their bounce under new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was restricted to two games as they remain in the relegation zone.
Relive all the action from the King Power Stadium in our live blog below:
Leicester vs Manchester City LIVE
Man City edge past Leicester 2-0 in the Premier League
Defending champions grab just a second win in 14 games amid horror recent run
Leicester unlucky to lose but now have lost four games in a row to be stuck in the relegation zone
FULL-TIME! Leicester 0-2 Man City
74’ - GOAL! Haaland heads home Savinho’s cross to end goal drought (LEI 0-2 MCI)
68’ - MISS! Vardy puts the ball over from six yards out (LEI 0-1 MCI)
39’ - POST! Buonanotte’s header comes back off the woodwork (LEI 0-1 MCI)
21’ - GOAL! Savinho finishes the rebound from Foden’s saved shot (LEI 0-1 MCI)
Leicester City FC 0 - 2 Manchester City FC
Leicester 0-2 Man City
16:47 , Luke Baker
A much-needed win for Man City and very different post-match scenes to recent times
FULL-TIME! Leicester 0-2 Man City
16:23 , Luke Baker
Some final, post-match thoughts from Richard Jolly at the King Power.
Relief and respite for Pep Guardiola with a rarity: a win. City lacked conviction and relied on some fortune at the back. But in attack, two young wingers made the difference, Savinho with a goal and an assist, James McAtee with a cameo that led to Erling Haaland's header to complete the scoring. Leicester played better than the scoreline suggests, but it is now four defeats in a row for them.
FULL-TIME! Leicester 0-2 Man City
16:22 , Luke Baker
Not always convincing but my word, did Man City need that! Savinho with a goal and an assist, while Erling Haaalnd also ended his drought. A second win in 14 games does not a crisis end but a step in the right direction for Pep Guardiola and co. They at least end 2024 on a high.
Leicester 0-2 Man City, 90+3 mins
16:20 , Luke Baker
There hasn’t been much in this game and Leicester can consider themselves unlucky to be looking like losing this game by two goals. But Man City came up with a couple of moments that made the difference
CROSSBAR! Leicester 0-2 Man City, 89 mins
16:18 , Luke Baker
A looped Vardy header has Ortega scrambling but it clips the top of the bar and goes over.
Final Leicester change as Mavididi is off, with Will Alves on. City should see this out now as we enter five minutes of injury time.
CLOSE! Leicester 0-2 Man City, 84 mins
16:13 , Luke Baker
McAtee has looked sharp since he came on and he’s goes close as he shifts the ball to his left foot and curls a shot towards the top corner. It’s narrowly over the bar.
Double sub for Leicester as they try to get back in this as Coady and Winks go off, with Caleb Okoli and Patson Daka are on. Can they set up a grandstand finale at least?
Leicester 0-2 Man City, 79 mins
16:06 , Luke Baker
Ortega yellow carded for taking too long over a goal-kick. Given their form, Man City won’t be taking anything for granted but surely they’ve got enough to win this one now.
Leicester 0-2 Man City, 76 mins
16:04 , Luke Baker
Haaland now dinks a cross in to Savinho - the reverse of the link-up for the goal - but Choudhury just gets there first to concede a corner.
GOAL! Leicester 0-2 Man City (Erling Haaland, 74 mins)
16:02 , Luke Baker
It’s probably harsh on Leicester but Man City double their lead! A bit of quality form McAtee on the right to skip past a defender, he plays the ball infield to De Bruyne who eventually shifts it out to Savinho on the left.
The winger clips in a lovely cross and Erling Haaland rises highest to power home a header. A big smile on his face and he’s finally ended his goal drought!
WATCH: Leicester go close to equalising goal
16:01 , Luke Baker
Leicester have gone close to an equaliser in this second half
OFF THE LINE!
Vardy's header is almost flicked in by Justin but Akanji is there to clear it ❌ pic.twitter.com/XGC5wU69hL— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Jamie Vardy goes close to levelling it! 😮 pic.twitter.com/jD9JcnShsF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 71 mins
15:59 , Luke Baker
More from Richard Jolly at Leicester
A rare sighting of James McAtee, who had only played two minutes of Premier League football this season before being brought on for Phil Foden, but with Leicester in the ascendancy, there was a logic to bringing him on instead of the less mobile Ilkay Gundogan. A real blow for City, though, with Nathan Ake going off as Kyle Walker has come on. Ake and Manuel Akanji have been crucial in keeping their lead thus far.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 70 mins
15:58 , Luke Baker
Subs for both sides as Kyle Walker on for Nathan Ake, meaning Lewis switches to left-back and Gvardiol goes to centre-back. Meanwhile, it’s Hamza Choudhury on for Justin, who may have picked up an injury, for Leicester.
MISS! Leicester 0-1 Man City, 68 mins
15:57 , Luke Baker
How are Leicester not level here? They come forward again, Mavididi whips in a delicious in-swinging cross and Vardy steers it over the bar from six yards out! You’d have banked on him to score!
Could he have gone at it with his head instead? His foot ended up being quite high, making the shot hard to control.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 65 mins
15:53 , Luke Baker
This is all Leicester now. Vardy hares away down the right and his dinked ball across looks dangerous but it runs too far for a teammate to reach. El Khannouss then yellow carded as he slides in to try and win the ball off Lewis and just takes the man out. Got a bit too excited there.
First sub for Man City as Foden is taken off, with James McAtee coming on.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 63 mins
15:51 , Luke Baker
Scramble in the Man City box! Kristiansen hauled down by Lewis for the free-kick, Coady nods the ball across, Vardy then gets his head to it and Justin backheels the ball towards goal from six yards out.
Akanji on the line manages to save the day and hoof it clear. Leicester have been the better side since the break - can they score?
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 59 mins
15:46 , Luke Baker
Short corner routine between Foden and De Bruyne with the England international then clipping the ball to the back post. Haaland knocks it into the danger area but Stolarczyk gratefully dives on the ball and smothers it.
At the other end, Silva clatters Buonanotte. Plenty of protests from the Portuguese but I’m not sure why - that was a clear foul. The free-kick is about 25 yards out, it’s dinked to the back post and then hacked clear by Haaland.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 57 mins
15:44 , Luke Baker
The first booking of the match as Soumare lunges and clatters Silva.
In the meantime, here’s the latest thoughts from Richard Jolly at the King Power Stadium.
In Bilal El Khannouss and Facundo Buonanotte, Leicester have two young players of real talent, even if one of them is borrowed. They both flourish in the space between the lines, which is where Manchester City have certain issues without Rodri. Leicester's flair players are giving them hope they can salvage a point which, after three straight defeats and in a tough run of fixtures, would prove rather useful.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 55 mins
15:43 , Luke Baker
Foden whips a dangerous ball in, it’s just over Haaland’s head but Silva nods it back across into the six-yard box. Vestergaard manages to scramble it away for a corner, which comes to nothing
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 53 mins
15:42 , Luke Baker
Leicester on top early in this second half. Mavididi shimmies past a couple of Man City defenders, plays a one-two but then runs out of room on the edge of the box.
The ball falls to El Khannouss who tries a curled shot but it’s not on target.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 49 mins
15:39 , Luke Baker
There were no changes at half-time for either team, by the way.
Leicester slice through Man City as Vardy slides in Buonanotte but he takes one touch too many, tries to turn back and then falls over vaguely claiming a penalty. Rightly, nothing doing on that front. He should’ve got the shot away because that was a great chance for the hosts.
KICK-OFF! Leicester 0-1 Man City
15:32 , Luke Baker
Back underway in Leicester. Man City will be desperate to see this game out.
15:21 , Luke Baker
Half-time thoughts from our man at the King Power, Richard Jolly
A lead for Manchester City, but they have had a few of those in recent weeks and still only won once in 13 attempts. It has felt fragile today, particularly when Facundo Buonanotte headed against the post. City could do with a second goal.
HALF-TIME! Leicester 0-1 Man City
15:17 , Luke Baker
Some frustration for Man City in that first half, with Haaland missing a golden chance and other opportunities slipping by. But Leicester could have scored themselves as Buonanotte hit the post and they’ve exposed Pep Guardiola’s men on the break.
As it is, Savinho’s neat finish after Foden’s effort was saved, but not well enough, by Stolarczyk is the difference between the sides.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 43 mins
15:14 , Luke Baker
Soumare’s cross is blocked out of play for a corner. De Bruyne then slices his attempted clearance, so it’s another corner. Ake heads away well from righ on his goalkeeper’s toes.
POST! Leicester 0-1 Man City, 39 mins
15:11 , Luke Baker
Time seemed to stand still but Leicester hit the post! A dinked cross is headed up in the air, then Justin’s header is blocked, it loops up in the air and after an age, Buonanotte can nod it goalwards from a standing position and it comes back off the left post!
Man City then attack and Foden’s cross to Haaland is nodded back across by the Norwegian but no one is there and it’s hacked clear.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 37 mins
15:08 , Luke Baker
Leicester looking dangerous again and Justin is through, with Ortega making himself big and saving well. The flag went up for offside anyway, though
MISS! Leicester 0-1 Man City, 36 mins
15:07 , Luke Baker
Brilliant from Haaland until he wasn’t. He powers away from one defender then cuts back between two more with a little shimmy. He fashions the space to shoot but his left-footed effort from the middle of the box is narrowly wide of the right post.
He should score there, really. He’d done all the hard work but the finish eluded him.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 33 mins
15:04 , Luke Baker
That’s a stunning cross by El Khannouss who whips the ball on an angle through the six-yard box, between the defenders and goalkeeper in that corridor of uncertainty, but it somehow misses everyone and goes out for a goal-kick.
If one Leicester player could’ve lunged and got a touch on it, that was 1-1.
WATCH: Man City take the lead at Leicester
15:03 , Luke Baker
Here’s how the visitors are ahead, with Savinho netting the rebound from Foden’s shot.
Savinho pounces and Man City lead! 💥 pic.twitter.com/k8pQmq3WkC
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 30 mins
15:01 , Luke Baker
Man City appeal for a penalty as Vestergaard comes across and De Bruyne goes down. Replays show there’s no contact, that’s a dive from De Bruyne.
Referee Michael Oliver has no interest in giving a penalty anyway.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 27 mins
14:58 , Luke Baker
Man City win the corner but a cross to the edge of the area comes to nothing. They probe again and Silva dinks a cross into Haaland, 12 yards out, but he can’t generate the power on his header to trouble Stolarczyk. Straight into the hands of the Leicester stopper.
Leicester 0-1 Man City, 24 mins
14:57 , Luke Baker
Here’s the thoughts from our man on the ground, Richard Jolly
A belated first Manchester City goal for Savinho in his 24th game. He has hit the woodwork, won penalties, drawn saves and been guilty of glaring misses. Now, finally, he has found the net to prompt some gallows humour from the crowd. "City's staying up," came the chant.
GOAL! Leicester 0-1 Man City (Savinho, 21 mins)
14:51 , Luke Baker
Savinho has his first goal for Man City in the Premier League! Neat link-up between Lewis and Foden, with the latter shooting from 25 yards. It’s an awkward bouncing shot and Stolarczyk dives to his right to push it away but straight to Savinho.
The winger still has a bit to do, to the left of the goal, but finishes neatly past the scrambling keeper. Stolarczyk has to do better with the Foden shot – push it wide or away – but take nothing away from the clever finish.
SAVE! Leicester 0-0 Man City, 19 mins
14:51 , Luke Baker
Leicester have actually been on top for the last 10 minutes and the Foxes fashion another chance. It’s terrible by Gvardiol who isn’t aware of his surroundings and plays a ball back way too short for Ortega.
The ever-lively Vardy nips in and rounds Ortega but the angle’s tight and as he shoots, the Man City goalkeeper sprawls back and blocks the shot wide. That was close!
Leicester 0-0 Man City, 16 mins
14:47 , Luke Baker
Leicester have had a bit more possession since those one-sided early exchanges. And Man City certainly look there for the taking on the counter-attack.
Neat build-up from the Foxes and a reverse pass finds Vardy who turns Ake inside out and surges into the box before a covering Lewis hooks the ball away. The flag then goes up against Vardy, who was narrowly offside again.
Leicester 0-0 Man City, 12 mins
14:44 , Luke Baker
Thoughts on the opening exchanges from our man on the ground in Leicester, Richard Jolly.
Reasons for optimism and pessimism for Manchester City so far. Kevin de Bruyne has brought creativity, particularly to set up a chance for Erling Haaland, and looks prominent. But the penalty that wasn't – when Stefan Ortega upended an offside Jamie Vardy – showed how open they are and how susceptible they look to every counter-attack in the extended absence of a defensive midfielder.
CLOSE! Leicester 0-0 Man City, 10 mins
14:42 , Luke Baker
Wow, what a let-off for Man City! They’re caught on the break, Vardy is clean through on goal and Ortega takes him out as he tries to round him.
It’s a clear penalty but the visitors are reprieved because Vardy was marginally offside from the ball through. Lucky, lucky Man City.
SAVE! Leicester 0-0 Man City, 8 mins
14:38 , Luke Baker
Probably should be 1-0 to Man City. De Bruyne with space down the right, found by a nice chipped pass from Lewis, the Belgian pulls the ball back for Haaland who hits it first time from 12 yards out but Stolarczyk sticks out a leg to make the save.
Either corner and that was in for Haaland!
Leicester 0-0 Man City, 6 mins
14:36 , Luke Baker
Nice move by Leicester and Mavididi has room on the right. He cuts in and tries to curl a shot into the far right corner but doesn’t bring it back and it goes well wide.
A slight warning for Pep Guardiola’s visitors though
Leicester 0-0 Man City, 5 mins
14:35 , Luke Baker
The pattern you’d expect from this match so far with Man City almost exclusively having possession in this opening five minutes. When they give the ball away, they immediately win it back and De Bruyne shoots from 25 yards but it’s harmlessly over the top.
Leicester 0-0 Man City, 2 mins
14:33 , Luke Baker
Foden out on the right with De Bruyne through the centre just behind Haaland for Cirt in the early going. I’m sure that will be fluid across the course of 90 minutes though
Savinho drives in from the left, straight at the Leicester defence but quickly runs out of ideas and a heavy touch takes it out for a goal-kick
KICK-OFF! Leicester 0-0 Man City
14:31 , Luke Baker
And we’re off at the King Power. Both teams wearing blue... Different shades at least, I suppose
Leicester v Man City
14:30 , Luke Baker
The teams are out on the pitch and kick-off is imminent in Leicester. Can the Foxes spring a shock or will Man City finally end their horror run by winning just a second match in their last 14?
Leicester v Man City
14:27 , Luke Baker
Only a few minutes until kick-off now. Here’s a reminder of the teams today.
Leicester XI: Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Soumare; Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy
Man City XI: Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Savinho, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland
Manchester City’s hearing looms over football in 2025 – and the ramifications will be seismic
14:22 , Luke Baker
A bit of pre-match reading here for you - our chief football writer Miguel Delaney has examined the charges against Man City and the impact that could have on football in 2025.
Man City’s hearing looms over football – and the ramifications will be seismic
Manchester City’s vulnerabilities during tough spell
14:15 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City have conceded 26 goals in all competitions since the start of November, the second most in Europe’s top five leagues behind Heidenheim’s 28.
Pep Guardiola’s side have also dropped 12 points from winning positions, which is already two more than the whole of last season.
Leicester vs Man City
14:06 , Luke Baker
The estimable Richard Jolly is our man on the ground at the King Power today - here’s his pre-match thoughts.
Pep Guardiola's latest search for a solution has taken him back to Kevin de Bruyne, who starts after two games on the bench. Jamie Vardy, scorer of two hat-tricks against City in the Guardiola years, is fit to return for Leicester, who are without the injured (and excellent) Mads Hermansen in goal. Guardiola brings up 500 games in charge of City, something few expected when he arrived, but in the worst run of form in his reign.
Manchester City’s record against promoted sides
14:00 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League matches against promoted sides, winning 19 and drawing one.
This season, they’ve beaten Ipswich and Southampton at home. However, that 1-0 victory over the Saints came just before their horror run.
13:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Ruud van Nistelrooy said Leicester still have to be perfect to beat Manchester City despite Pep Guardiola’s struggles.
The Foxes were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool on Boxing Day and a third defeat in a row saw Van Nistelrooy’s side drop into the relegation zone.
“Everybody knows, when you look at the team and how they played (against Everton), I know the quality of that squad and manager so I am focusing on that and the quality we will face,” Van Nistelrooy said.
“We have to prepare for a great performance in our side. Being where we are we need to be spot on in all parts of football to get a result.
“For us all the games we are playing are massive. We know a certain amount of points are necessary and every second of every game is important.
“It is something which needs constant improvement and pressure to perform and get results. It is from game to game, we evaluate the game and make a gameplan to get a result against City.”
Kevin De Bruyne starts for Man City
13:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Kevin De Bruyne has scored or assisted in just one game for Manchester City since the start of September. That was in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest earlier this month, which is City’s only win in their last 13 games.
He was an unused substitute in the defeat at Aston Villa and got 16 minutes off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Everton on Boxing Day.
Leicester vs Man City team news and line-ups
13:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Kevin De Bruyne starts for Manchester City and replaces Jeremy Doku in their only change from the 1-1 against Everton on Boxing Day.
Jamie Vardy is fit to start for Leicester and comes in for Patson Daka, Jordan Ayew is suspended and is replaced by Facundo Buonanotte.
Leicester vs Man City team news and line-ups
13:16 , Jamie Braidwood
Leicester: Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Soumare; Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy
Man City: Moreno, Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Savinho, Foden; Haaland
Leicester vs Man City team news
13:11 , Jamie Braidwood
Injuries have been a key factor in Manchester City’s stunning loss of form. We’ll have the team news from the King Power in the next few minutes. Jamie Vardy is expected to return for Leicester, but does he start?
Manchester City’s nightmare run
13:01 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City’s run of results, NINE losses in 13 games
L 1-2 vs Tottenham (A) - Carabao Cup
L 1-2 vs Bournemouth (A) - Premier League
L 1-4 vs Sporting (A) - Champions League
L 1-2 vs Brighton (A) - Premier League
L 0-4 vs Tottenham (H) - Premier League
D 3-3 vs Feyenoord (H) - Champions League
L 0-2 vs Liverpool (A) - Premier League
W 3-0 vs Nottingham Forest (H) - Premier League
D 2-2 vs Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League
L 0-2 vs Juventus (A) - Champions League
L 1-2 vs Manchester United (H) - Premier League
L 1-2 vs Aston Villa (A) - Premier League
D 1-1 vs Everton (H) - Premier League
‘I will not give up,’ insists Pep Guardiola
12:46 , Jamie Braidwood
Pep Guardiola says he will not quit as he looks to end Manchester City’s miserable run of form, with nine defeats and just one win in 13 games.
“I will try, I will keep going. Sometimes you think (the bad run) will be (ended) earlier or (it would be) easier to fix it, but others it takes more time.
“I will not give up. I want to be here. I want to do it and, with the situation that we have, we have to do it.
“Of course I want it, everyone wants it. I don’t want to disappoint my people in terms of the club, the fans, the people who love this club.
“I think all of us in our job want to do it well and please the people. That is undeniable, not a question mark.
“The biggest test is to come back again, but we have done that before.”
Early Man City team news
12:31 , Luke Baker
Ederson, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish are all doubts while Kevin De Bruyne could start after being on the substitutes bench against Everton.
Man City XI: Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Silva; Doku, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland
Early Leicester team news
12:25 , Luke Baker
Jamie Vardy missed Leicester’s defeat at Liverpool on Boxing Day but could return to the starting XI on Sunday. However, centre-back Wout Faes is still a doubt.
Leicester XI: Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Soumare; Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy
When is Leicester v Man City
12:20 , Luke Baker
Leicester vs Man City is due to kick off at 2:30pm GMT on Sunday 29 December at the King Power Stadium.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
If you do not have a Sky Sports subscription, you can buy a NOWTV day pass.
If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Everything you need to know about Leicester v Man City
12:15 , Luke Baker
Manchester City will be looking for their first win since early December when they travel to Leicester City this afternoon.
The Foxes took an early lead at league leaders Liverpool on Boxing Day but eventually succumbed to a 3-1 defeat which leaves them in the relegation zone.
Erling Haaland missed a second-half penalty on Boxing Day as City dropped more points in a 1-1 draw with Everton, extending their torrid run to one win in 13 matches. Pep Guardiola’s side are outside the top four heading into their final game in 2024.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Is Leicester vs Man City on TV? Channel and how to watch Premier League fixture
Leicester vs Man City
11:55 , Luke Baker
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Leicester vs Man City today. Surely this is the game where Pep Guardiol’a men finally end their dismal run? Surely...
