Jack Grealish and Omar Marmoush each scored a goal in the first half to help Manchester City back to winning ways against relegation-destined Leicester at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
WATCH – Manchester City vs Leicester City full match replay
Grealish’s opening goal, which came in just the 2nd minute, snapped a 15-month goal-less drought in the Premier League for a player who joined the club for $140 million less than four years ago, amid widespread speculation that he could leave this summer. Marmoush made it 2-0 right on 30 minutes after Mads Hermansen couldn’t corral a ball in his penalty area and it fell at the Egyptian’s feet right by the penalty spot.
The victory is massive for Man City’s UEFA Champions League chase, as they leapfrog Chelsea (vs Tottenham Hotspur, on Thursday) for 4th place and remain a point clear of Newcastle in the race for 5th (a presumed UCL place this season).
Key pieces already in place for City to reclaim title
You don’t have to squint or even look very hard to see the makings of a Man City squad that can not only challenge for, but recapture, the PL title next season. Nico Gonzalez has been nothing short of fantastic since arriving in January and it’s little wonder he’s been likened to Rodri, who is even expected to return from his torn ACL before the end of this season — those two playing in the same midfield will once again lock down the middle of the park in the way we have come to expected from Guardiola’s teams. The same goes for Marmoush, whose versatility won’t be fully exploited until he gets a run of games to play with Erling Haaland (currently injured), rather than simply replacing him at center forward — but who better to do so than Guardiola? Savinho has quietly been a fantastic chance creator and should only get better as he prepares to turn 21 next week. If Nico O’Reilly, another 20-year-old proves to be a long-term solution at left back, Josko Gvardiol can shift inside to left-sided center back and fill what is currently the biggest hole in the team. Unfortunately for the rest of the PL, their demise appears to have been short-lived.
Player ratings - Manchester City vs Leicester
What’s next?
- Manchester United vs Manchester City — Sunday, 11:30 am ET
- Leicester vs Newcastle — Monday, 3 pm ET
Manchester City vs Leicester live updates - by Andy Edwards
Manchester City vs Leicester final score: 2-0
Goalscorers: Jack Grealish (2'), Omar Marmoush (30')
GOAL! Man City 2-0 Leicester: Marmoush hammers home a loose ball (30')
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Leicester: Grealish slots home Savinho’s cut-back pass (2')
Manchester City starting lineup
Ederson - Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly - Gonzalez, Gundogan, Grealish - Savinho, Doku, Marmoush
Leicester starting lineup
Hermansen - Faes, Coady, Thomas - Justin, Ndidi, Soumare, Kristiansen - Daka, El Khannouss, Vardy
How to watch Manchester City vs Leicester live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:45pm ET Thursday
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Man City enter the midweek in fifth place with 48 points, one behind Chelsea and one in front of a Newcastle United team which has played one fewer game. The top four places usually qualify for the Champions League, but fifth place looks likely to be a Champions League place this season due to English clubs’ strong performances in UEFA competition. And that will certainly be the case if Arsenal, Aston Villa, or Liverpool win this season’s UEFA Champions League and finish in the top four.
Leicester City, meanwhile, have nearly run out of room for error in their race to avoid the drop to the Championship. The Foxes have 17 points, the second-worst total in the Premier League, and are nine points back of 17th-place Wolves with just nine matches left in the top-flight season.
Manchester City team news, focus
OUT: John Stones (thigh), Rodri (torn ACL - MORE), Manuel Akanji (groin), Nathan Ake (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Oscar Bobb (fitness), Erling Haaland (ankle)
Leicester City team news, focus
OUT: Abdul Fatawu (knee - out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Ricardo Pereira (muscular)
Manchester City vs Leicester prediction
Haaland’s absence isn’t the boon it once was for an opponent, as Omar Marmoush has been so good in limited minutes since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt in January. Leicester struggled to keep teams away from goal and no longer are the team that can produce end-to-end goal fests like their shock 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium five years ago. Manchester City 3-0 Leicester City.
