Manchester City breathed fresh life back to their Premier League campaign on December 31, 2023, with a much-needed 2-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. This win marked City’s second triumph in their last fourteen matches across all competitions, easing some of the mounting pressure on manager Pep Guardiola following recent underwhelming performances.
Guardiola expressed his relief, stating, "It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible things for many years.” The victory came after four straight league matches without a win and nine losses out of their last thirteen, leaving City desperate for points as they navigate through what has been referred to as a crisis.
The first goal for City came at the 21st minute when Savinho capitalized on Leicester keeper Jakub Stolarczyk's failure to properly clear Phil Foden's long-range shot. This was Savinho’s first goal for the club since his arrival, and he celebrated it by mimicking the pregnancy announcement of his partner—adding an emotional touch to his milestone.
Despite the early lead, the match was far from straightforward. Leicester City, still trying to find their rhythm under manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, had several chances to equalize. The Foxes looked dangerous, with Jamie Vardy narrowly being denied a penalty when he was fouled by City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who was later booked for time wasting. Leicester's Facundo Buonanotte also struck the post just before halftime, reflecting the visitors' struggles with efficiency and composure.
Vardy’s frustration continued as he missed another golden opportunity to equalize. He failed to convert from close range – his effort was wayward, signalling another missed chance for Leicester. The statistics showed Leicester matching City on chances created, indicating the match was tightly contested.
City began to regain their grip as the second half progressed, and they doubled their advantage through Erling Haaland at the 74th minute. The Norwegian forward, who had been out of form with no goals for five matches, made no mistake with his header from Savinho’s perfect cross, saying afterwards, "It's always a relief when you score, it was an important goal to go 2-0 up.” This goal effectively sealed City's win as Leicester's spirits were visibly dampened.
While Manchester City celebrated their long-awaited success, their performance highlighted significant issues. Guardiola noted, "We don’t have energy to sustain 90 minutes,” pointing to their fatigue and lack of intensity. The team ended the match having less possession than Leicester, which was atypical for the reigning champions, pointing to their struggles without key players due to injuries like Rodri and Rúben Dias.
Despite their challenges, this victory lifted City to fifth place on the Premier League table, but they remain eleven points behind league leaders Liverpool, who have played two games fewer. Meanwhile, Leicester's defeat left them languishing at 18th place, deep within the relegation zone.
Looking forward, City will seek to build on this positive result as they prepare for their upcoming match against West Ham, hoping to continue their resurgence before the new year. Guardiola's confidence and belief were palpable as he stated, "We will be back,” encapsulating the hope still held by the team for the remainder of the season.