London (AFP)
Manchester City won the shock of matchday 18 of the Premier League with authority, beating Leicester (3-1), who is now close behind in the race for second place.
City still widens the gap with Chelsea (4th), relegated to 9 points before moving to Tottenham, which would overtake him if successful Sunday.
It is a result which makes especially the business of Liverpool, retained by the final of the World of the clubs in Qatar and whose match against West Ham was postponed.
The Reds are still ten points ahead of Leicester which they will receive for Boxing Day in 5 days, with one game less.
City badly needed this result against a team that had not lost in 12 games.
The way the match was won could also boost Pep Guardiola's men for the second half of the championship, even if the title seems well and truly lost.
The Mancunians dominated the head and shoulders this match, imposing on Leicester a suffocating pressing.
If the Foxes opened the scoring in the middle of the first act (0-1, 22nd) by Jamie Vardy with a magnificent ball pricked above Ederson, for his 17th achievement in 18 days, the final score of 3-1 seems almost flattering.
In the wake of a Riyad Mahrez who martyred the left side Ben Chilwell and equalized eight minutes later against his old team, a shot deflected by Caglar Söyüncü (1-1, 30th), City shot 22 times on goal , finding the frame 11 times, against 5 and 2 for his opponent.
Without a Kasper Schmeichel author of superb parades against Gabriel Jesus (18th), Kevin de Bruyne (40th) or Mahrez (66th), or without the help of the post which had repelled a strike from De Bruyne (14th) the addition would have could be very heavy.
A penalty from Ilkay Gundogan (2-1, 42nd) and a close goal by Jesus on De Bruyne caviar (3-1, 69th) will be enough for the happiness of the defending champion worthy of his status in this match at the top.
© 2019 AFP