Leicester City vs. Manchester City: Score and Reaction from 2016 Premier League
Leicester City put in their best performance of the season as they crushed Manchester City at the King Power Stadium, completing a 4-2 victory in the Premier League on Saturday.
Jamie Vardy smashed a hat-trick, and the Foxes scored three goals in the opening 20 minutes, baffling and deconstructing City's defence.
Andy King hit the second goal for Leicester, leaving Vardy to score a virtuoso treble.
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Aleksandar Kolarov and Nolito added efforts for City as the champions switched off in the final moments.
City were without the suspended Sergio Aguero, with Pep Guardiola deputising striker Kelechi Iheanacho in his place.
Wes Morgan was the only survivor from the Foxes team that started against Porto in the UEFA Champions League, as Claudio Ranieri rang the changes at the King Power.
The hosts exploded out of the blocks to the roar of the home supporters, taking a third-minute lead through Vardy.
The England international showed a glimpse of his best form from last term, bursting through the inside channel to slam the ball wide of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Presenter Gary Lineker was pleased with the phenomenal start:
OptaJoe highlighted Vardy's lack of potency in recent times:
The champions doubled their lead just two minutes later, as City's defence appeared inadequate for the challenge at hand.
King was the hero, curling his effort into the top corner and leaving Bravo completely stranded and stricken.
Guardiola looked shocked as he witnessed Leicester's best brand of cavalier football; the manager was helpless as his team tried to catch their breath against the ropes.
Riyad Mahrez was dictating the flow of the game when his side scored a surprise third goal, as the Algerian fed in Vardy with a sumptuous pass.
The striker waltzed around Bravo to slot the ball home as the stadium erupted in pure joy.
Sports writer Liam Canning pointed the finger at the City boss:
Huffington Post writer Francis Maxwell vindicated Leicester's direct style as they tore City apart:
City did their best to assert control in the final 20 minutes of the first half, but they were winded and appeared to be a shadow of themselves, despite monopolising the ball.
The champions skipped down the tunnel with a three-goal advantage at half-time, but Guardiola refused to make a substitution before the restart, sticking to three at the back and maintaining his shape.
WhoScored.com highlighted the match statistics and player ratings:
The Sky Blues were on the front foot immediately as they tried to reduce the arrears, camping in the Foxes' final third with Kevin De Bruyne going close.
Leicester sat back on their heels and happily conceded territory to City. The Foxes were clearly intent on only playing on the counter as they sank deeper and deeper.
City appeared lethargic as they chased shadows, desperately looking for a moment of invention from their star line-up.
Raheem Sterling came on to add pace and flair, but the England player remained on the fringes of the match.
Guardiola paced his technical area in disgust as City continued to fail with the ball at their feet.
Presenter Andy Goldstein questioned Guardiola's lack of defence going into the current campaign:
Vardy wrapped up the game with 12 minutes to spare, completing an audacious hat-trick.
The striker once again exploited the calamitous play of John Stones to skip past Bravo, rolling the ball in from an acute angle off the post.
The goal was a just reward for the Foxes, who put in their best performance of the season against Guardiola's poor outfit.
Kolarov claimed his first of the season for City from a wondrous free-kick, but it was too late for the team from the Etihad Stadium, despite Nolito adding a second.
City remain charlatans in the title race as they misfire with surprising regularity, and Guardiola will have to visit the January transfer window to find solutions.
Post-Match Reaction
Ranieri was delighted after the game, and claimed his side tired at the end, but were clearly the best team on the night, per BT Sport Football:
Leicester move up to 14th in the standings after the needed win, while City remain in fourth.
