Man City vs Leicester LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the fallout from the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City host Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon as part of the Premier League’s Boxing Day action.
With Covid hitting the schedule hard, Brendan Rodgers’ side face an uphill task to stop the defending champions.
With Pep Guardiola’s side hitting top form and with the opportunity to move six points clear at the top of the table, the Foxes will need to show immense character after a crushing penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup. Leicester are ninth in the table and can close the gap on those above them in the European spots, with Tottenham in seventh just four points ahead.
City can make it eight straight domestic wins today as both Liverpool and Chelsea struggle to keep pace, with Bernardo Silva in scintillating form after inspiring another dominant win last time out against Newcastle. Guardiola has also urged supporters to continue doing their bit to ensure games do not return to behind closed doors, while also helping to ensure society is as safe as possible: “I want to trust the people who know and they say this is the safest way – take a vaccine. People don’t die when they take a vaccine. Wearing a mask is so important, like social distancing and hand sanitisers, so let’s try to do it. Otherwise, it may (come back) again and again and again.”
Follow all the post-match reaction from the Etihad Stadium and re-live goal updates from a Boxing Day thriller:
Chelsea come from behind to beat Aston Villa and stay in title hunt as returning Romelu Lukaku shines
It is still a three-horse race. That is the message that came through loud at clear at Villa Park as Chelsea battled to a 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
The scoreline suggests a degree of ease, but it was only in the dregs of this match that there was any real comfort for Chelsea, once Jorginho had slotted the second of his two penalties on Boxing Day. The first was an equaliser to Reece James’ own goal that gave Villa a surprise but deserved lead 28 minutes in.
Yet the lion’s share of the praise belongs to Romelu Lukaku, who returned to action for a second-half cameo that drastically altered the dimensions of this tussle. His header 11 minutes after the break gave Chelsea a lead they held until the end, and brought about a marked improvement in their work in the final third.
Chelsea come from behind to beat Aston Villa and stay in title hunt
Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea: Lukaku came off the bench to score and win a penalty – the second of two successful spot-kicks for Jorginho
Thomas Tuchel speaking to BBC Sport
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel spoke to BBC Sport after the game and once again put forward the case for re-introducing five substitutes to ease the workload on players. He said:
We showed a very good reaction after their goal. The own goal made things super complicated. The reaction was very good. We defended strong and did not allow big chances. It was a deserved win but hard work.
“We have concerns for injured players. We let Callum Hudson-Odoi play 90 minutes after Covid. Thiago Silva got injured. N’Golo Kante is injured. Mateo Kovacic is playing after injury and Covid without any preparation and training. We’re just filling holes where we can fill them. We play teams without international duties. Five changes were invented because of Covid. Now we’re in the middle of Covid and some teams are having games postponed and others aren’t. Three changes is a big disadvantage.
“We are the only league who play in winter which I love but we’re not protecting the players. All other leagues have five changes. Then we compete against them in the Champions League. It’s a bit frustrating. It will not stop. Brighton will play a super physical game then we have two games against Spurs, who are out of Europe and fully focused on the league and Carabao Cup.
“No, I was not aware of [Lukaku’s] record against Villa. I should have known this before. We decided at half-time to have a bit more threat and create more problems. I was happy he was involved. He was the game changer today. We took a lot of risks - 45 minutes was more than the medical department recommended. Who knows if it’s the right thing to do.”
Romelu Lukaku inspires Chelsea turnaround in win over Aston Villa
Romelu Lukaku climbed off the bench to inspire Chelsea’s comeback victory as he continued to haunt Aston Villa
The striker scored his first Premier League goal since a September brace against the same opposition as the visitors came from behind to win 3-1.
Lukaku has now scored nine goals in his last 10 top-flight appearances against Villa and also caused havoc to win a stoppage-time penalty for Jorginho to score his second goal of the game.
Romelu Lukaku inspires Chelsea turnaround in win over Aston Villa
Substitute Lukaku changed the game as Chelsea came from behind to win 3-1.
Lukaku’s reaction on Sky Sports
Romelu Lukaku only played 45 minutes but such was the impact of his performance he was awarded the man of the match award. He scored Chelsea’s second goal and then won the penalty for their third. Mings and Konsa had no answer for him and after the game he spoke to Sky Sports saying:
I needed a performance like this today. It’s been difficult getting the end of games. I kept working hard. I’m happy with my performance and have to push on.
“I try to be less static and on the move all the time. It was a brilliant cross. My preferred action is running into space, using my speed and my power.
“We are the hunters now. The last results were not the best and now we have to chase. We have to treat every game like a final. Today we won and now we have to push on.
“We had to win the game. Credit to Steven Gerrard and his staff. It was not easy for us. Our quality came through.”
Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku has scored nine goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Aston Villa; he hasn’t scored more against any other opponent in the big-five European leagues in his career.
Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea
Aston Villa have lost seven Premier League games in which they scored first in 2021, the joint-most of any side in a single calendar year in the competition, along with Everton in 1999 and Wigan in 2006.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea result and five things we learned as Romelu Lukaku fires Blues to crucial win
Romelu Lukaku scored a crucial second-half header as Chelsea came from behind to beat Aston Villa away from home and stay in the Premier League title race.
The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when Reece James directed Matt Targett’s cross into his own net but Chelsea responded quickly and levelled from the penalty spot through Jorginho after Callum Hudson-Odoi was fouled by Matty Cash.
Lukaku came off the bench at half-time and made an instant impact as he glanced Hudson-Odoi’s cross into the net on 56 minutes. Mason Mount then had a golden chance to add a third as he beat Emi Martinez to the ball but couldn’t steer his shot into the open goal.
Hudson-Odoi had a chance to wrap up all three points but Martinez made a crucial stop to keep his side in the match - before Lukaku was scythed down in the box by Ezri Konsa while through on goal late on. Jorginho stepped up to add his second from the spot and confirm the victory for Chelsea.
Here are five things we learned...
Five things we learned as Romelu Lukaku fires Chelsea to crucial win over Aston Villa
Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea: The striker scored his first Premier League goal since September as Thomas Tuchel’s side claimed a vital three points
Aston Villa 1 - 3 Chelsea
Two goals for Chelsea in the second half. The introduction of Romelu Lukaku really was the changing point of the game. Tyrone Mings really struggled against the forward who was a constant threat from crosses into the box. He also won the second penalty that allowed Jorginho to seal the victory.
Full-time: Aston Villa 1 - 3 Chelsea
90+4 mins: That’s a big win for Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel. They’re back in the title race with those three points. Chelsea are now level on points with Liverpool and just six points behind the league leaders.
Two penalties from Jorginho and a headed finish from Romelu Lukuaku was enough to see the Blues ease past Aston Villa.
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