Foxes Beaten Despite Showing Mettle In Manchester

Opportunities fell to both outfits early on in Manchester, with Willy Caballero denying both Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton, while Fernandinho and Leroy Sane were off target for the hosts. 

Man City did take their chances shortly after though, with their opening goal crafted by the lively Sane.

The German international’s low cross found David Silva, who from six yards converted past Kasper Schmeichel. 

Raheem Sterling made an attempt to play the ball in an offside position, but the goal was given regardless. Just seven minutes after Silva had struck, Pep Guardiola’s men were awarded a penalty when Sane was brought down by Yohan Benalouane in the area.

Gabriel Jesus stepped up and made no mistakes from 12 yards. 

But in typical fashion, City did not fold under the pressure of needing to reply to a two-goal deficit and pulled one back following a superb team move with three minutes of the first period to play. 

Riyad Mahrez played a one-two with Andy King in the centre of the pitch before offloading the ball to Albrighton on the left flank.

The tricky winger took and touch and delivered into Shinji Okazaki, who sent an acrobatic first-time volley into the top corner past Caballero to give his side hope. 

Early in the second period, Albrighton fired a half-volley off target before forcing Caballero into a stop at the front post, while Schmeichel was on hand to deny Sane as both sides traded blows. 

Then came a moment of incredible misfortune for Mahrez. His excellent skill to get past Gael Clichy left the Man City defender with choice but to bring the Algerian down inside the area.

It was Mahrez who dispatched the penalty, but was deemed to have touched the ball twice and his spot kick was disallowed. 

With time running out Vardy sent a neat flick into the side-netting and Wilfred Ndidi’s 20-yard drive was blocked by Man City skipper Kompany, but Leicester could not salvage a deserved draw following a frustrating fixture in Manchester. 

Major moment 

Buoyed by Shinji Okazaki’s 42nd-minute strike, Leicester City put plenty of pressure on the hosts’ back line in the second period and as a result, a share of the spoils would not have been an unfair result. 

The Foxes looked on course to recover from going 2-0 down in the first period when Riyad Mahrez was awarded a penalty, but the No.26 lost his footing during his run up and while he found the back of the net, he was denied his 11th goal of the season. 

It is a scenario that is not likely to be seen again anytime soon. 

Who impressed? 

Every time Shinji Okazaki dons a Leicester City shirt, he puts in a massive shift. His work-rate is phenomenal, while his link-up play with Jamie Vardy is vital to how the Foxes set up their attack. 

Prior to his goal against Manchester City, he had not scored since netting at Sunderland on 3 December, but it was certainly worth the wait.

A sweeping, ruthless phase of forward play eventually saw the Japan frontman shrug off Nicolas Otamendi before sending a sensational volley into the top corner. 

Where do we stand? 

The Foxes remain ninth in the Premier League table following the defeat, but the likes of Southampton, Bournemouth, West Ham United and Stoke City all play this weekend and could therefore potentially leapfrog Craig Shakespeare’s men. 

Coming up… 

Leicester City make a welcome return to King Power Stadium on Thursday evening, when they host high-flying Tottenham Hotspur (7:45pm kick-off). Three days later, the 2015/16 Premier League champions conclude their campaign against Bournemouth on the same soil.