Manchester City 2-5 Leicester City | EPL | Highlights

Jamie Vardy was the scourge of Manchester City again as his hat-trick secured a sensational 5-2 win for Leicester City and raised fresh questions about Pep Guardiola’s defence.

The striker won two penalties and converted both, either side of a terrific backheeled finish for his second goal, to net his second hat-trick against City – almost four years after his treble in a 4-2 victory over the same opponents.

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His former Leicester team-mate Riyad Mahrez gave the hosts the lead at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, but Vardy then took centre stage, with James Maddison adding a brilliant fourth goal late on.

Nathan Ake headed a City consolation, but Leicester then scored a fifth in a dramatic Premier League clash, with Maddison fouled and Youri Tielemans slotting in another penalty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srENSReZwH0

It meant Guardiola, in his 686th game as a manager, suffered the indignity of seeing one of his teams conceding five goals for the first time.

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City lacked a senior striker, with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus injured, and it showed. Winger Raheem Sterling was deployed in a central role, but he was kept quiet and Guardiola called on 17-year-old Liam Delap early in the second half, sacrificing Fernandinho.

How Guardiola must have wished he had a striker of Vardy’s quality to summon. He might welcome a less brittle defence, too, after problems at that end of the field were a key reason they failed to seriously challenge Liverpool last season.

Mahrez hit a stunning opening goal after three minutes, finding the top-left corner with a rasping right-footed strike after Kevin De Bruyne’s corner from the left was only half cleared.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CSf9Ss7mmc

Rodri then had a goal disallowed after straying offside before heading in a free-kick from De Bruyne. But moments later, in the 37th minute, Leicester drew level.

Vardy went down under a lazy challenge from Kyle Walker, and the former England frontman smashed the spot-kick high into the net.

The clinical striker made the home team suffer for a second time in the 54th minute when he produced a tasty flick to convert Timothy Castagne’s low cross from the right.

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Leicester had a second penalty moments later when Vardy went down under a challenge from Eric Garcia, and Vardy this time found the bottom-right corner.

Substitute Maddison added a fourth in the 77th minute, cutting in from the left and curling a sumptuous shot over Ederson, before Ake headed in at the other end.

There was still time for a third Leicester spot-kick, and with Vardy off the field by that point due to what appeared to be a groin issue, it was Tielemans who stepped up to put the finishing touch to the annihilation of Guardiola’s backline.

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