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Manchester City embarrassed by Leicester 5-2

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 27, 2020. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 27, 2020. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Manchester City were absolutely obliterated at home by Leicester and Jamie Vardy.

Manchester City conceded three schoolboy penalties and were thoroughly beaten as Leicester took a 5-2 win through a Jamie Vardy hat-trick. An incredible opening strike from Riyad Mahrez masked what was otherwise a shocking performance as City let in four straight goals in a shambolic performance.

City were dealing with their fair share of injuries throughout the team, but that was no excuse for this disastrous performance. After getting lucky to escape Wolverhampton with an opening day win a week ago, a team who finished clinically absolutely put City to the sword.

This squad looks already to have far more in common with the one that finished 18 points behind Liverpool than either of the teams that finished with 100 and 98 points in the years prior. Calling the title race dead after two matches would be an overreaction, but the fact of the matter is that the eye test in this case seems clear: City don’t have it. Liverpool still do.

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In a league where 95 points seems like a barrier of entry to even contend for a title, losing at the clip City have over the past 13 months is simply not good enough. The root cause is not apparently clear, but the evidence is staring everyone in the face. Rúben Dias will help, but even though defense will be scapegoated for the result, City offered nothing going forward without a true center forward. The minute Guardiola subbed out Fernandinho to get on a true striker, the wheels fell off at the back. City’s team is unbalanced in either direction.

With two holding midfielders, they can’t score. Without defensive cover, they leak goals like no tomorrow. Leicester were not lucky. They were far and away the superior side while City were arrogant and complacent after scoring a brilliant goal. That was not a performance worthy of becoming champions, and something must change quickly.