Manchester City beat Leicester City 3-1 in a convincing display at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to move within a point of the side one place above them in second. Pep Guardiola did waste the opportunity to move closer to Premier League leaders Liverpool while they were away winning the FIFA Club World Cup. In spite of not always having played a crucial role for the champions, Riyad Mahrez was nothing short of scintillating against his former side, constantly demanding the ball and dictating play from wide areas.
The intensity of the Algerian’s play was so high he embodied Guardiola’s style of play, pinning Leicester players against the touchline to make two tackles. His defensive work off the ball has come a long way since arriving from the Foxes to Manchester City.
In possession he made ten more passes than Kevin De Bruyne, highlighting just how much of the host’s play was channelled through the right-wing. Despite favouring cutting inside on to his left foot, Leicester constantly pushed Mahrez onto his right and into crossing positions. Though only one of his five crosses were successful, it should have led to a goal as Gabriel Jesus directed the ball wide from inside the six-yard box. Furthermore, all four of his long balls reached their intended target, and nobody on the pitch played more key passes than the Algerian’s four, in what was arguably his most creative display since arriving in Manchester.
Leicester City may have tried to show Mahrez onto his weak foot every time he collected the ball, well aware of the danger he presents cutting inside, but it was to no avail. He fired off ten shots at Kasper Schmeichel in the Foxes goal, over double the amount of any other player in Sky Blue. Four of those efforts were on target, and he may have required a fortunate deflection to beat his former teammate, but it was a deserved reward for the Algerian’s efforts.
Furthermore, Mahrez dribbled around his opposite numbers on three occasions, once again a team-high and it is particularly impressive considering Leicester City have the best defensive record in the Premier League. Overall it was an emphatic display, but to prevent Leroy Sane from replacing him upon his return from injury, they must come more consistently.
