Match ends, Manchester City 2, Leicester City 5.
Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick as Leicester City inflicted a remarkable defeat on Manchester City to go top of the Premier League.
Despite going behind to a superb fourth-minute strike by former Foxes midfielder Riyad Mahrez, the visitors responded in stunning fashion.
Vardy levelled with a penalty before the break after he had been fouled by Kyle Walker, and he then sealed his second treble against Pep Guardiola's side from the spot, after he had cleverly turned home Timothy Castagne's cross to make it 2-1.
James Maddison scored for the first time since 1 January when he curled home a stunning fourth for Leicester.
And although Nathan Ake pulled one back with his first goal since a £40m summer move from Bournemouth, a third Leicester penalty - this time converted by Youri Tielemans because Vardy had already gone off - completed a memorable afternoon for Brendan Rodgers' Foxes, who have started a top-flight season with three successive wins for the first time.
In contrast, Guardiola was suffering his worst home defeat as City boss, with his team now in the bottom half of the table.
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Fearsome Vardy
For most of the opening period, the possibility of Leicester returning to the top of the table appeared remote.
But with Vardy they always have a chance. Even at the age of 33, the striker remains frighteningly fast.
Walker is no slouch but the England right-back was panicked into making a rash challenge when the Leicester forward got ahead of him inside the box. Vardy's powerful spot-kick gave Ederson no chance of keeping it out.
His second penalty was equally emphatic after another City defender, Eric Garcia, had got himself into the wrong position as he tried to challenge Vardy.
In between, Vardy tucked home a poacher's effort Leicester's most celebrated old boy, Gary Lineker, would have been proud of. The supplier was Castagne, who is turning into a very astute purchase, given how willing the Belgian is to push forward from his right-back role as manager Rodgers demands.
Maddison's return adds the dimension the Foxes lacked so badly as their 2019-20 season petered out into a relatively disappointing fifth-place finish.
The only sour note for the visitors were injuries to midfielder Dennis Praet and defender Jonny Evans.
The latter in particular may prompt some hard thinking among the Leicester hierarchy, given they had a £30m bid for Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski turned down on Friday.
Man City to make market move
It is now just a matter of time before Benfica defender Ruben Dias completes his move to the Eithad. And on this evidence, the Portugal international cannot come soon enough. The fee will be about £65m, with centre-back Nicolas Otamendi going the other way for about £13.7m in a separate deal.
Guardiola has made the purchase of a right-sided central defender a priority before the transfer window closes on 5 October. He does not trust either Otamendi or England international John Stones in that role - and he knows if the situation is not addressed, the chances of City overhauling Liverpool are almost non-existent.
Against Leicester, Eric Garcia, wearing a headguard to protect the 16 stitches he sustained during a training ground incident that kept him out of the season opener at Wolves, started in the position earmarked for 23-year-old Dias.
In defence, it was an orthodox role in a four-man backline. But as soon as the hosts were in possession - which was fairly often - Garcia became the central component of a back three, which skipper Fernandinho was part of, allowing Walker and Benjamin Mendy to turn into wing-backs.
Garcia's future is unclear. The 19-year-old Spaniard has a year left on his contract, has refused to sign another and wants to go back to Barcelona.
Plenty of problems for Guardiola
Guardiola spoke earlier this month about the need to deserve a new contract.
That requires his team to compete for trophies - and to do that they will need to perform a lot better than this.
With Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero definitely missing next Saturday's trip to Leeds United, City need to solve their problems in attack, given Raheem Sterling failed to make much of an impact as a false nine and 17-year-old Liam Delap cannot be expected to shoulder the burden given his lack of experience.
Guardiola will spend some time pondering the problem. However, given they have only played two games, he will do so with his team in 13th place, which is virtually unheard of in recent times.
Leicester's best ever start - the stats
- It is the first time in 686 games that a side managed by Guardiola has conceded five goals.
- It is also the first time in 438 games at Etihad Stadium that City have let in five goals.
- This was only the second time Guardiola has lost his opening home game of a league season as a manager.
- Leicester have won their opening three games of a top-flight season for the first time.
- The Foxes have scored 12 goals in the Premier League this season, the most by a team in their first three matches since Manchester City (12) and Manchester United (13) in 2012-13.
- Leicester are the first Premier League side to score three penalties in a game, while Manchester City are the first side to concede three spot-kicks in the same fixture since Tottenham in October 2014.
- Vardy has now scored eight league goals against Manchester City since Guardiola took charge in 2016.
- Vardy is the only player to score two hat-tricks against sides managed by Guardiola.
- Since his Premier League debut in August 2014, Vardy has won more (19) and scored more (22) penalties than any other player in the competition.
What's next?
Manchester City go to Burnley in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday (19:00 BST), before travelling to Elland Road to play newly promoted Leeds in the Premier League on Saturday (17:30).
Leicester's next game is at home to West Ham United in the league on Sunday (12:00).
Player of the match
VardyJamie Vardy
Manchester City
Avg
- Squad number26Player nameMahrezAverage rating
4.55
- Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
4.33
- Squad number6Player nameAkéAverage rating
4.16
- Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating
3.61
- Squad number48Player nameDelapAverage rating
3.59
- Squad number25Player nameFernandinhoAverage rating
3.53
- Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating
3.43
- Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
3.34
- Squad number21Player nameF TorresAverage rating
3.22
- Squad number7Player nameSterlingAverage rating
3.15
- Squad number22Player nameMendyAverage rating
3.10
- Squad number50Player nameGarcíaAverage rating
3.09
- Squad number2Player nameWalkerAverage rating
3.07
Leicester City
Avg
- Squad number9Player nameVardyAverage rating
9.10
- Squad number10Player nameMaddisonAverage rating
8.44
- Squad number8Player nameTielemansAverage rating
8.20
- Squad number27Player nameCastagneAverage rating
8.09
- Squad number15Player nameBarnesAverage rating
8.05
- Squad number24Player nameMendyAverage rating
7.94
- Squad number4Player nameSöyüncüAverage rating
7.81
- Squad number6Player nameEvansAverage rating
7.77
- Squad number2Player nameJustinAverage rating
7.73
- Squad number26Player namePraetAverage rating
7.67
- Squad number18Player nameAmarteyAverage rating
7.64
- Squad number1Player nameSchmeichelAverage rating
7.44
- Squad number14Player nameIheanachoAverage rating
7.34
- Squad number28Player nameFuchsAverage rating
7.28
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 50García
- 6AkéBooked at 60mins
- 22Mendy
- 25FernandinhoSubstituted forDelapat 51'minutes
- 16Rodri
- 26Mahrez
- 17De Bruyne
- 47FodenSubstituted forF Torresat 64'minutes
- 7Sterling
Substitutes
- 11Zinchenko
- 13Steffen
- 14Laporte
- 21F Torres
- 48Delap
- 69Doyle
- 80Palmer
Leicester
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Schmeichel
- 27Castagne
- 18AmarteyBooked at 51mins
- 6EvansSubstituted forFuchsat 80'minutes
- 4SöyüncüBooked at 47mins
- 2Justin
- 26PraetSubstituted forMaddisonat 69'minutes
- 8TielemansBooked at 22mins
- 24Mendy
- 15Barnes
- 9VardySubstituted forIheanachoat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Maddison
- 11Albrighton
- 12Ward
- 14Iheanacho
- 17Pérez
- 20Choudhury
- 28Fuchs
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away7
- Corners
- Home3
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Leicester City 5.
Post update
Offside, Leicester City. James Justin tries a through ball, but Kelechi Iheanacho is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ferran Torres (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Goal! Manchester City 2, Leicester City 5. Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty Leicester City. James Maddison draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Foul by Rodrigo (Manchester City).
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Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Jamie Vardy.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 2, Leicester City 4. Nathan Aké (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Jamie Vardy.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City).
Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ferran Torres.
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Attempt blocked. Kyle Walker (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Christian Fuchs replaces Jonny Evans because of an injury.
Post update
Hand ball by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
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Comments
Join the conversation
What an absolute shambles Man City’s defence is! It’s gonna cost a lot to sort that mess out!
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Spend spend spend!!
Mind the gap
That's what happens when you don't improve your defence. Bringing in Ake and a nobody from Benfica won't improve it. They are average.
Give me a high 5 fraudiola 😂🤡🖐️
If Man City don’t get their walking wounded back soon, it will be a long season for them.
* Douglas Luiz - £10.80m
* Danilo - £27.00m
* Kyle Walker - £47.43m
* Benjamin Mendy - £51.75m
* Aymeric Laporte - £58.50m
* Pedro Porro - £10.80m
* Angeliño - £10.80m
* João Cancelo - £58.50m
* Rodri - £63.00m
* Nathan Aké - £40.77m
* Ruben Dias - £55.00m
**£0.484 billion**. On defenders / defensive midfielders. Signed by Pep. In 4 seasons....