Manchester City hold off Leicester City comeback in nine-goal thriller to extend lead at top

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:01 am

Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points after a thrilling 6-3 home win over Leicester City on Sunday.

The hosts scored four goals inside the opening 25 minutes with Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan on the scoresheet while Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling scored from the penalty spot.

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Leicester produced a stunning fightback in the second half as James Maddison, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho made it 4-3.

However, an Aymeric Laporte header and another goal from Sterling wrapped the game up late on as Pep Guadiola's side marched to their ninth consecutive Premier League victory.

The epic thriller will go down in Premier League history as it featured the most goals in a single match on Boxing Day.

"We just had to control the game," Sterling told the BBC. "At 4-0 up you have to kill the game.

Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan both scored as Manchester City won a thriller on Boxing Day.
James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

"Leicester have some really good players. They didn't get disheartened and kept going. Credit to them."

De Bruyne opened the scoring for City after five minutes with a fine curling shot into the bottom corner.

City were awarded a penalty eight minutes later after Youri Tielemans brought down Laporte inside the area and Mahrez stepped up to score against his former side.

The hosts grabbed a third moments later when Gundogan finished off a flowing team move while Sterling was fouled in the area and converted another spot kick to make it 4-0 inside 25 minutes.

Leicester responded in the second half and scored three goals in 10 minutes through Maddison, Lookman and Iheanacho to threaten a stunning comeback.

However, Leicester's weaknesses at set-pieces continued as Laporte and Sterling both scored from corners to seal an entertaining Boxing Day win for City.