Goals galore in Manchester as Man City hit Leicester City 6-3 in Premier League

Man City led 4-0 before break, Foxes net 3 consecutive goals in 2nd half to keep hopes alive but home team name result 6-3

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Rampant Manchester City beat Leicester City 6-3 in a Boxing Day English Premier League match to extend their winning streak to nine games.

Kevin De Bruyne drew the first blood in the fifth minute at Etihad Stadium as Manchester City's Belgian midfielder fired a low left-footed shot to beat the Foxes' Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Man City were awarded a penalty kick after a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) review as Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans fouled Aymeric Laporte.

Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez fired from the white spot as Manchester City doubled the lead in the 14th minute.

Seven minutes later, Ilkay Gundogan tapped the ball into the Leicester City net after following a rebound by Schmeichel.

A few minutes later, Man City were given another penalty as Raheem Sterling was tripped by Tielemans in the box.

Sterling converted the penalty successfully to make it 4-0 in the 25th minute.

Man City led the first half 4-0 at home.

Leicester City reacted in the second half as the visitors' forward James Maddison scored on a counter attack after several passes in the 55th minute.

Four minutes later, Ademola Lookman made it 2-4, finishing in a one-on-one against Man City goalie Ederson.

Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho made a close finish in the minute 65 as his goal gave the Foxes a hope of a possible comeback at the Etihad Stadium, 3-4.

Man City's Laporte scored a header from a corner kick taken by Mahrez in the 69th minute to make it 5-3. Schmeichel did not move.

Sterling added another goal for Man City in the 87th minute.

League leaders Manchester City have 47 points in 19 matches, and second-place Liverpool are currently six points behind them.

Earlier this week, the Premier League postponed the Liverpool vs. Leeds United fixture, which had been scheduled to be held on Boxing Day, due to COVID-19 cases and injuries at the Leeds squad.

Meanwhile, Leicester City moved down to the mid-table with 22 points.

- Man City display flawless performance for 2 months

Victors Manchester City have been in a perfect run in the league since November.

After an unexpected home loss against underdogs Crystal Palace by 2-0 on Oct. 30, Manchester City bounced back.

Since Nov. 6, Man City have respectively beat Manchester United, Everton, West Ham United, Aston Villa, Watford, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Newcastle United, and Leicester City lastly.

In the next fixture, Manchester City will visit Brentford on Wednesday.

- Arsenal hammer Norwich City

In another Boxing Day fixture, Arsenal thrashed Norwich City 5-0 at Carrow Road.

The Gunners' English midfielder Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal bagged an extravagant win in an away match.

Scottish left back Kieran Tierney, French forward Alexandre Lacazette, and English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe were the other scorers for Arsenal.

Fourth-place Arsenal have 35 points.

Norwich City are at the bottom of the Premier League with 10 points.

Arsenal will host Wolverhampton Wanderers in London's Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

- Results:

Manchester City - Leicester City: 6-3

Norwich City - Arsenal: 0-5

Tottenham Hotspur - Crystal Palace: 3-0