Leicester vs Man City Premier League result and final score after De Bruyne goal with Haaland out - live

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League with victory over Leicester

Pep rules out staying in PL for as long as Ferguson or Wenger as Man City reach 600 goals

A stunning free kick from Kevin De Bruyne earned Manchester City a 1-0 victory at Leicester City on Saturday, a win that moved the champions back to the top of the Premier League.

With top goalscorer Erling Haaland missing a Premier League game for the first time since arriving at City through injury, the visitors lacked a cutting edge in the first half, with Leicester containing them with ease.

It was clear it would take something special to unlock the determined hosts, with Belgian midfielder De Bruyne stepping up, firing an unstoppable free kick into the net four minutes after the break to put City in front.

Leicester responded well and has a chance to level through a stunning volley from Youri Tielemans, but City goalkeeper Ederson brilliantly tipped the thunderbolt of a strike onto the crossbar.

The hosts kept coming, putting City under plenty of late pressure, but the champions held on to climb back to the top of the standings on 29 points, one clear of Arsenal who play Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Leicester stay 17th.

Leicester vs Man City

• 49’ GOAL! De Bruyne with a thumping free-kick in off the woodwork, 0-1
• 54’ OFF THE BAR! Tielemans with a rocket on the volley and Ederson tips it onto the bar, 0-1
• FULL TIME! City return to the top of the table with De Bruyne the difference

[29 October 2022 12:46 · Jack Rathborn]

Leicester 0-0 Man City

Offside flag up but City in behind thanks to a gorgeous De Bruyne ball.

Alvarez is in, a tight angle and Ward stands tall to make the stop. A warning for the Foxes.

[29 October 2022 12:43 · Jack Rathborn]

Leicester 0-0 Man City

Nice stop by Ward!

Whipped in by De Bruyne and Rodri redirects the ball and uses the pace on it.

Ward off balance, but tips it over. City piling on the pressure now.

[29 October 2022 12:40 · Jack Rathborn]

Leicester 0-0 Man City

A great run by Gundogan in behind and he escapes Faes.

The ball isn’t good enough to hand him a proper chance, but a nice headed flick at least gives Ward a job to readjust.

Justin coping well one on one with Bernardo too, a good block on the outside as the Portuguese looked to cross into the area, corner City.

[29 October 2022 12:38 · Jack Rathborn]

Leicester 0-0 Man City

City now into a rhythm.

Grealish with the ball out wide and the England star is linking up nicely with Cancelo.

Leicester able to force Rodri to switch out to the right flank though. Excellent discipline from Rodgers’ men so far.

[29 October 2022 12:35 · Jack Rathborn]

Leicester 0-0 Man City

Justin getting forward early for the Foxes.

And it’s a fine run to the byline, but he can’t sort his feet out and the pressure from Stones is enough to see the ball bounce back off the Leicester defender for a goal kick.

[29 October 2022 12:24 · Jack Rathborn]

Leicester vs Man City warm-ups

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Action Images via Reuters)

(REUTERS)

[29 October 2022 12:23 · Jack Rathborn]

Leicester vs Man City odds

Odds

Leicester: 7/1

Draw: 17/4

Manchester City: 1/4

[29 October 2022 12:21 · Jack Rathborn]

Pep Guardiola on Julian Alvarez

Man City boss Pep Guardiola on Julian Alvarez: “Normally, if Erling is not ready, Julian is the first option, definitely,” said Guardiola. “We can play with a false nine but I think it’s not going to happen.

“If Erling is not available, not only tomorrow but for the future, Julian is first option.”

“Play 90 minutes every game and he will score goals, maybe not like Erling, but he will score goals.”

[29 October 2022 11:44 · Jack Rathborn]

Brendan Rodgers on facing Man City

Rodgers: "It's not where you want to be, but performance-wise, it's been much better, a better resilience. We've played well, but we haven't defended well enough and obviously we need to do that today.

"The patience is important, it's early in the season, stay calm, they've been amazing, I know the qualities, the summer was difficult and overpilled into the season. We know we can score goals. We felt we weren't playing too bad, playing well for 60-70 minutes then give away poor goals.

“When you play Man City, they stretch your back line, how they work it, if you play four, they put five on your back line, if you play five, they put six on your back line. When we've played well against them the back five has worked well. Whatever structure you play they'll have a large spell of possession."

[29 October 2022 11:40 · Jack Rathborn]

‘I had a marvellous time’: Claudio Bravo defends error-strewn Manchester City spell

Claudio Bravo has said that he had a “marvellous time” at Manchester City, claiming his spell at the club to be “successful in every sense”.

The Chilean was a statement signing from Barcelona by Pep Guardiola during the manager’s first summer at the club in 2016, immediately displacing established first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart as Guardiola sought to evolve his side’s style of play.

But Bravo endured a tough start to life in England, culpable for a Manchester United goal in a 2-1 derby win on debut, and sent off for handling the ball outside of his area in a Champions League meeting with his former club a month later.