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:
Half-time: Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea
45+1 mins: It’s been an intriguing first 45 minutes. Chelsea have had more possession but they’ve been unable to threaten Emi Martinez from open play.
Aston Villa have been dangerous on the counter-attack and earned themselves a goal after Reece James headed one past his own goalkeeper. That lead lasted just six minutes though as Matty Cash brought Callum Hudson-Odoi down in his own penalty area and Jorginho slotted home the spot kick.
The team’s head into the break on level terms with all three results still up for grabs.
Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea
42 mins: Alonso comes forward again for Chelsea and flicks a low cross over towards the back post. Mason Mount is arriving in the box but Targett nips in from of him and prods the ball out behind before running into the post. Chelsea think they’ve won a corner but the offside flag goes up against Alonso and Villa are awarded a goal kick.
Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea
39 mins: Jorginho gives the ball away to Sanson who sprints forward on the counter-attack. He drives into the vacant space on the right side before slotting the ball back into the middle towards Watkins. Mendy reads the play and comes flying out of his area, narrowly beats Watkins to the ball and boots it out of play.
Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea
37 mins: Matty Cash launches a throw in down the right wing and picks out Buendia. He knocks the ball past Rudiger but can’t get around the Chelsea defender who beats him to the ball and sends it back to Mendy.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea (Jorginho, 34’)⚽️
34 mins: Jorginho converts from the spot. He shimmies up to the ball and hits it straight down the middle as Martinez leaps across to his left. Chelsea are level again!
Penalty to Chelsea!
Aston Villa 1 - 0 Chelsea
Marcos Alonso brings the ball down the left wing and slides a short pass into the box for Callum Hudson-Odoi. Matty Cash keeps his eye on the ball and lunges at it as it comes by. Hudson-Odoi beats him to it though and Cash clatters into the Chelsea forward bringing him down. Easy decision for the referee.
Aston Villa 1 - 0 Chelsea
31 mins: Chelsea are behind again. They’ve only kept one clean sheet in seven Premier League games. Can Aston Villa hold on to their lead?
GOAL! Aston Villa 1 - 0 Chelsea (James OG, 28’)⚽️
28 mins: Villa take the lead! It wasn’t how they planned it but the home side will take it. Watkins feeds the ball up to Ramsey on the counter-attack and he knocks it across to Ings. Ings passes it to Cash who swings a cross into the box. Chelsea head the ball over to Ramsey on the left side of the pitch and he lays it off to Targett. Targett fires a sharp cross into the box and Reece James jumps to clear it. It glances off his head, flies over Mendy in goal and lands in the back of the net!
Aston Villa 0 - 0 Chelsea
26 mins: Chance! Mason Mount gets the travelling fans something to cheer about as he receives the ball on the left wing. He rolls it inside and curls a right-footed effort towards the far top corner. Emi Martinez looks a little nervous about the shot but pulls his hand away at the last minute and the ball bounces on top of the crossbar and goes behind.
Aston Villa 0 - 0 Chelsea
24 mins: Sanson plays the ball inside from the right and Villa work it up to Ramsey running his way across the pitch. He’s caught by Mason Mount who shoves him off the ball and comes away with possession. Ramsey goes down but the referee has a good sight of the tackle and is fine for Chelsea to continue.
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