Manchester City vs Leicester: Five things we learned as Vincent Kompany strike seals crucial win

Five things we learned: City found a way through thanks to Kompany's wonder-strike, which could well decide the Premier League title race

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Kompany goal the crowning moment?

There was no Manchester City player that the Etihad would least like to take that shot on. Then again, there is no player that they would more like to see score it.

Vincent Kompany’s first goal of the season is likely to be the most important of his career. It will almost certainly be the best.

Kompany is no stranger to these big moments. There was, of course, the 2012 Manchester derby header which propelled City over the final weeks of their first Premier League title race. His previous two goals before this one came in a cup final and another meeting with United.

And yet, has there been a more alien, other-worldly sight than this ageing, injury-prone centre-half - a man who pre-dates the Mansour era and who has proved himself good enough to stick around - thumping the ball in from around 35 yards out?

Strange though it may have seemed, it is likely to be the death blow in the best title race of recent memory and the defining moment of this Premier League season.

Brilliant Bernardo shows the way

The individual end-of-year awards were rightly shared between Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and City’s Raheem Sterling last week but Bernardo Silva will perhaps look back on his performances this season and feel unlucky to have missed out.

A bit-part player in the Centurions run last term, Bernardo has been a contender for City’s own player of the year and while Sterling fumbled, snatching at his chances, the Portuguese was at his majestic best.

One first-half slalom through Leicester’s defence, taking out James Maddison, Ben Chilwell and Hamza Choudhury, demonstrated the close control and agility which has made him one of the Premier League’s most incisive players.

For long spells, he was the only City outfield player with a cool head, finding gaps and passes that his team-mates were fluffing, demonstrating by example that there was a through their visitors.

Muted Foden removed early

In a surprise selection, Phil Foden was handed the second league start of his senior career. It was a sign of Guardiola’s faith in the teenager, which will only have grown following his early impact in the recent, vital win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Foden had an opportunity to do the same here, receiving the ball and shooting on the turn in the 11th minute, but aiming right at Kasper Schmeichel. That, unfortunately, was as good as it got for the academy product.

Moments earlier, he had received a reprimand from Guardiola for his part in a chance for Ricardo Pereira. The game largely passed him by in midfield and he was the first to be sacrificed as City went in search for that vital goal, with Leroy Sané his replacement.

It should not be treated as a setback. Regular starts will come for Foden and he may retain his place at Brighton on the final day. But here was a reminder that there is a reason why Guardiola’s integration of the youngster has been gradual.

Rodgers game-plan makes life difficult

This was Rodgers' first trip to a top six club since returning to the Premier League in February. He won just three of the 18 equivalent games while at Liverpool. Eight ended in defeat.

There was little in his record to suggest that he could do his former employers a favour. And yet Leicester acquitted themselves well, showing considerably more tactical discipline and organisation than Rodgers’ Liverpool teams of the past.

Still, it was not enough. What undid them was a drop-off of intensity and an inability to keep possession in City’s half. Time after time, the champions won the ball back off their tiring visitors and surged again.

When Leciester’s analysts review the decisive goal, they will spot Wilfred Ndidi failing to close down Kompany, a first sign of lethargy in otherwise tireless performance. Leicester came close to making a huge impact on this title race but not close enough.

Fouls stop Leicester’s counters

Ask Guardiola whether City purposely foul opponents when facing down counter-attacks and he will bristle. City dominate possession, he will tell you. It is therefore no surprise that they have made the fewest fouls of any top-flight side this season.

But the number of fouls is not as relevant as the type of offence and during these 90 minutes, there were several examples of the tactical fouling which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently referred to.

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vincent Kompany were both guilty but the most egregious example was from David Silva, who was felled Youri Tielemans just as the visitors were embarking on a promising break. Silva received a yellow card.

That is the risk you take when adopting this approach, which is often profitable against teams who look to break at speed. City are not the only ones to employ it. Every side does to an extent. But next time Guardiola denies that it is a part of City’s game, a few moments from this match may stick in the memory.