Man City vs Leicester LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today

Follow all the fallout from the Etihad Stadium

Guardiola: 'Man City cannot attack quicker, we are not Liverpool'

Manchester City host Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon as part of the Premier League’s Boxing Day action.

With Covid hitting the schedule hard, Brendan Rodgers’ side face an uphill task to stop the defending champions.

With Pep Guardiola’s side hitting top form and with the opportunity to move six points clear at the top of the table, the Foxes will need to show immense character after a crushing penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup. Leicester are ninth in the table and can close the gap on those above them in the European spots, with Tottenham in seventh just four points ahead.

City can make it eight straight domestic wins today as both Liverpool and Chelsea struggle to keep pace, with Bernardo Silva in scintillating form after inspiring another dominant win last time out against Newcastle. Guardiola has also urged supporters to continue doing their bit to ensure games do not return to behind closed doors, while also helping to ensure society is as safe as possible: “I want to trust the people who know and they say this is the safest way – take a vaccine. People don’t die when they take a vaccine. Wearing a mask is so important, like social distancing and hand sanitisers, so let’s try to do it. Otherwise, it may (come back) again and again and again.”

Follow all the post-match reaction from the Etihad Stadium and re-live goal updates from a Boxing Day thriller:

Man City vs Leicester

• 5 mins: De Bruyne opens scoring for Man City with low, composed finish
• 14 mins: Mahrez doubles Man City’s lead from penalty spot after foul on Laporte
• 21 mins: Gundogan slams home close-range rebound to make it 3-0 to the hosts
• 25 mins: Sterling scores Man City’s second penalty of the day after trip by Tielemans
• 55 mins: Leicester pull one back as Maddison finishes off clinical counter-attack
• 59 mins: Lookman adds quickfire second for visitors after another slick break
• 66 mins: Iheanacho scores for Leicester as improbable comeback edges closer
• 69 mins: Laporte header puts Man City back in control
• 87 mins: Sterling seals victory with tap-in from Man City corner

[26 December 2021 16:18 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man City 4 - 2 Leicester (Lookman, 59’)⚽️

59 mins: Game on?! Another lovely counter-attack from Leicester results in a second goal for the visitors. Maddison wins the ball in his own half and shifts away from two tackles in midfield. He threads a pass up to Iheanacho who guides it into the left side of the box for Lookman. He gets in behind Dias, rolls the ball onto his left-foot and knocks it past Ederson to give Leicester some hope!

[26 December 2021 16:15 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man City 4 - 1 Leicester (Maddison, 55’)⚽️

55 mins: James Maddison! A simple ball comes over the top and Laporte comes flying out to meet it. He slips and the ball drops over his head and is picked up by Maddison. He flies towards the box and commits Dias to come across. Maddison slips it to Iheanacho and runs into the box. Cancelo attempts to tackle the striker but doesn’t get there in time and Iheanacho feeds it back to Maddison who slots it home!

[26 December 2021 16:14 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

52 mins: Chance! Patient build-up from Man City sees them pass the ball around the middle of the pitch before Gundogan drives into the box. He loses the ball but Bernardo recovers it and prods the ball to Mahrez. Mahrez shoots from the right side fo the box but his effort goes out for a corner!

[26 December 2021 16:11 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! West Ham 1 - 1 Southampton

49 mins: Michail Antonio has been brought on at half-time for West Ham and he’s got them an equaliser in just four minutes with a fine headed finish. It’s his first goal in 10 matches.

[26 December 2021 16:09 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

48 mins: Fernandinho arrives late on Maddison as the ball is played into the Leicester midfielder. Maddison sends the ball away and gets clipped to win a free kick for the visitors. Leicester are already showing more discipline on the ball in the second half.

[26 December 2021 16:06 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

Kick off: Timothy Castagne has come on at half-time for Leicester. He’s replaced Ayoze Perez. Youri Tielemans gets the game back underway. Castagne has slotted into the right-back position with Marc Albrighton pushed forward in the midfield.

[26 December 2021 16:04 · Michael Jones]

Still to come...

Coverage of Aston Villa vs Chelsea will follow the conclusion of this game at the Etihad Stadium. Team news is due in just under 30 minutes time.

[26 December 2021 16:03 · Michael Jones]

Elsewhere in the Premier League

There have been goals all around the Premier League in these 3pm kick offs. Here are all the half-time scores:

Norwich 0-2 Arsenal

Tottenham 2-0 Crystal Palace

West Ham 0-1 Southampton

Man City 4-0 Leicester

[26 December 2021 16:00 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

Riyad Mahrez is only the third player to score as many as three Premier League goals against Leicester after previously playing for them in the competition, after Chris Wood (four) and Emile Heskey (three).

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2021 15:57 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

Man City are the third side to score two penalties in the opening 25 minutes of a Premier League match, after West Ham vs Man Utd in 2011 and Liverpool vs Sheff Utd in 2007, with City the first of those three to do so with two different scorers.