City Fall To Defeat In The Capital
Brendan Rodgers named an identical matchday squad to the one which defeated Sheffield United, with Academy graduate Luke Thomas making his second full senior appearance.
The visitors were without the injured Ricardo Pereira, James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, Christian Fuchs, Daniel Amartey and Marc Albrighton, while Çağlar Söyüncü was also suspended for the encounter in the capital.
In City’s 100th league clash with Tottenham, they fell behind early on as Harry Kane played in Son Heung-min, who saw an effort deflect fortuitously into the net off James Justin.
The visitors went close to equalising immediately, though, when Justin crossed for Jamie Vardy on the right wing, but the Premier League's top scorer glanced a header wide of the Spurs net.
When Vardy received a ball on the other side, from youngster Thomas, the 33-year-old was unlucky once more as Toby Alderweireld got a vital block in to stop him scoring his 24th goal of 2019/20.
Vardy was involved again when Harvey Barnes galloped down the left flank and set him up for another headed effort, which deflected off Davinson Sánchez and out for a City corner.
Youri Tielemans’ cross was headed goalwards by Wes Morgan and, although it was initially blocked, there was Vardy to try an audacious back-heel – saved at point-blank range by Hugo Lloris.
Another excellent cross from Thomas came to Ayoze Pérez in the area and, after taking it down smartly, the volley was brilliant – bettered only by the stop from Lloris, tipping it behind.
The game’s next notable moment came on the half-hour mark as Harry Winks located Son and his volleyed strike was acrobatically nudged over the crossbar by Kasper Schmeichel.
Spurs, though, added another two goals to their lead before the break, through Kane. The first was a breakaway from Tielemans’ corner, before a superb curler into the top corner.
Leicester tried to hit back as Pérez launched a long-range effort at goal, which Lloris got his fingertips to, before Demarai Gray replaced Ryan Bennett for the Foxes at the interval.
The 24-year-old tested Lloris with a free-kick from 30 yards out, which began a period of pressure from City in north London as Morgan also nodded over from a Tielemans corner.
Late on, Rodgers introduced Nampalys Mendy, Dennis Praet and Kelechi Iheanacho, before George Hirst, 21, emerged from the bench to make his first senior appearance for the Club.
Iheanacho was denied by the impressive Lloris in the latter moments, before Hirst headed wide for the Foxes and then went for goal from distance, but it wasn't to be for Rodgers' men.
Major moment…
Despite a relatively even start to proceedings in north London, a sixth-minute opener from Spurs, on the counter, gave José Mourinho’s side an early foothold in the game.
It came from Harry Kane’s quickly executed pass as Son Heung-min ran at the Foxes’ backline and produced the finish, deflected past Kasper Schmeichel off the unfortunate James Justin.
Who impressed?
Former Foxes striker Iwan Roberts said on LCFC TV's City On The Sofa: "I'm scratching my head as to how Leicester have lost that game. They had 70 per cent possession and 24 shots.
"I thought Luke Thomas, again, was really assured in his play and he showed his abilities going forward with a really good delivery on a few occasions."
Where does it leave us?
City are guaranteed a top-five finish and remain fourth in the Premier League – having played one game more than their rivals – one point behind Chelsea and level with Manchester United.
Both sides will be in action on Wednesday evening as the Red Devils host West Ham United (6pm kick-off) and Chelsea travel to Anfield to face champions Liverpool (8:15pm kick-off).
Coming up…
A final-day showdown with Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Manchester United awaits the Foxes at King Power Stadium next Sunday (4pm kick-off).
Chelsea, meanwhile, will entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge at the same time, as the 2019/20 season reaches a dramatic conclusion.
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