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Rob DawsonCorrespondent
MANCHESTER, England — For the primary 25 minutes on the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day, Manchester Metropolis confirmed why they’re favourites to win the Premier League title once more this season. Then, for the opening 20 minutes of the second half, they confirmed why they may not.
Pep Guardiola’s aspect barely needed to sweat out their Christmas dinner to attain 4 instances inside half an hour in opposition to Leicester Metropolis. Had it not been for 2 skilled saves from Kasper Schmeichel and a few near-misses, they may have had eight earlier than half-time.
However then got here a reminder that even Metropolis are able to capturing themselves within the foot, and when Leicester scored for a 3rd time in simply 10 minutes after the break to make it 4-3, there have been some nervous faces among the many dwelling followers — maybe remembering that well-known 4-4 draw between Newcastle and Arsenal greater than a decade in the past.
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The panic was short-lived thanks to 2 extra Metropolis targets to make it 6-3, however over the course of the sport they’d not been as dominant because the scoreline steered or, certainly, as Guardiola would have hoped for, notably after such a quick begin.
“It was a roller-coaster, a typical Boxing Day with loads of targets, for everybody it was an entertaining recreation,” stated Guardiola afterwards. “It was a pleasant recreation to look at and three extra factors. We maintain going. The standard of gamers now we have produced this quantity of actions to attain targets. No supervisor and techniques can clear up it with out the standard.
“It was bizarre. Even at 4-0 within the first half, each time they’d the ball they arrived within the remaining third delivering good passes. They moved loads of gamers. They’ve loads of high quality. They’re a grasp of counter-attacks.”
Leicester, ravaged by sickness and harm, can haven’t any complaints concerning the end result, however Guardiola will little doubt be involved that his workforce managed to concede 14 pictures and eight on the right track regardless of having had 72 % possession. When Kelechi Iheanacho made it 4-3 on 65 minutes — Leicester’s third aim a 10-minute span, Metropolis’s vulnerability on the break made it really feel nearly inevitable they’d concede once more. They have been lucky Leicester went to sleep at a nook simply 4 minutes later, permitting Aymeric Laporte to move in a fifth and giving the hosts some much-needed respiration area.
Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and a penalty every from Raheem Sterling — ferociously disputed by Rodgers — and Riyad Mahrez noticed Metropolis race right into a 4-0 lead after simply 25 minutes. Rodgers responded at half-time by switching to a again three; James Maddison and Ademola Lookman scored twice in 4 minutes earlier than Iheanacho turned within the third to provide the Leicester followers who did not depart early hope they may be witnessing a Christmas miracle, just for Metropolis to type themselves out simply in time. Laporte’s header turned the momentum and three minutes from time, Sterling received his second to make it six.
After scoring seven in opposition to Leeds and 4 in opposition to Newcastle, Metropolis have hit 17 targets of their final three video games. These are scary numbers, particularly with no recognised striker, however then a few of their defending was scary, too. Liverpool and Chelsea will not be chucking up the sponge simply but.
“Clearly we did not make an important begin,” admitted Rodgers. “You anticipate to be up in opposition to it. The second aim was nowhere close to a penalty. It is so irritating. Paul Tierney, the VAR, has missed very bodily challenges in the previous couple of weeks, however deems {that a} penalty. He [Laporte] has fallen over. Earlier than it, we’re 4-0 down within the opening 25 minutes.
“At half-time, we stated to the gamers can we win the second half, can we get nearer to them? The most important issue was it was so essential to not unravel bodily and mentally. They’ve by no means achieved that. At 4-0 away, with everybody going in opposition to us, it might have been simple for the gamers to try this. However they did not. At 4-3, we’re disillusioned with set-pieces.”
Guardiola has such a powerful squad that whereas various Premier League groups are struggling to subject groups because of the ongoing wave of coronavirus instances and postponements, he might once more afford to depart Jack Grealish and Phil Foden on the bench in opposition to Leicester, having been ignored once more at Newcastle as punishment for a disciplinary problem. He has a galaxy of attacking stars to select from however Leicester’s second-half onslaught — a lot of it constructed on swift, environment friendly counter-attacks — maybe gave proof of how essential Rodri has turn out to be.
The Spanish midfielder was absent and he was an enormous miss on the base of the midfield. It is no coincidence that this season Metropolis’s win proportion with Rodri within the workforce is 86 %. With out him, it drops to 29 %.
A very powerful statistic from Guardiola’s standpoint, nevertheless, shall be that regardless of their transient wobble, Metropolis have gained 9 league video games in a row. It’s the basis of the kind of run that wins titles. After exhibiting off their greatest and worst in opposition to Leicester, the most important impediment to retaining the trophy could also be themselves.