Manchester City ended 2024 with a much-needed win, seeing off Leicester City with goals from Savinho and Erling Haaland. Despite a shaky performance, Pep Guardiola’s men managed to secure a vital three points at the King Power Stadium. Here’s how the players fared:
Goalkeeper & Defence:
Stefan Ortega (7/10): Solid and sharp, especially when denying Jamie Vardy after a defensive blunder. Secured City’s first away clean sheet since October 1.
Rico Lewis (7/10): Played mostly in central midfield, showing nice touches and combining well with Foden and De Bruyne. Defensively competent when needed.
Manuel Akanji (6/10): A bit static at times, but crucially cleared a James Justin shot off the line. Improved as the game went on.
Nathan Ake (7/10): Led the defensive line with confidence, making vital interventions and catching Vardy offside multiple times. Had to be substituted with an injury in the second half.
Josko Gvardiol (5/10): Defensively shaky, lucky not to be punished for a poor header that fell to Vardy. Still showed promise going forward but needs to improve defensively.
Midfield:
Mateo Kovacic (6/10): Moved the ball well but was caught out of position at times. Lacked the quality of Rodri in transition.
Kevin De Bruyne (8/10): Dominated the match, orchestrating play and creating chances. His assist for Haaland’s goal capped off an excellent performance.
Bernardo Silva (6/10): Energetic and busy, but couldn’t find the decisive impact he’s known for. Put in a solid performance but nothing special.
Attack:
Phil Foden (5/10): Struggled to make a significant impact. His shot led to the opener, but he was largely ineffective in the final third.
Erling Haaland (6/10): Missed a couple of chances in the first half but redeemed himself with a powerful header for the second goal. Looked more dangerous afterward.
Savinho (7/10): Took his chance well for the opener and provided the assist for Haaland’s header. Quiet after the goal but showed his quality when it mattered.
Subs & Manager:
James McAtee (7/10): Brought energy and skill when he came on. His quick feet helped set up the second goal and gave City a more dynamic edge.
Kyle Walker (6/10): Solid defensively after replacing the injured Ake. Helped stabilize the defense.
Pep Guardiola (6/10): A much-needed win, but his team remains a work in progress. Needs to address defensive transitions and consistency in performances.
City will be relieved with the result, but there’s still much to be done to get back to their best.
