City Beaten Away To Brighton
Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka struck in the first half as City headed into the break on level terms, however Leandro Trossard and Alexis Mac Allister both found the net in the space of seven minutes, before the latter netted a stunning free-kick to add to Luke Thomas' own goal and an effort from Moisés Caicedo to secure three Premier League points.
For Leicester's sixth Premier League outing of the campaign, manager Brendan Rodgers made two changes from Thursday's defeat by Manchester United. In came Iheanacho and Daka for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jamie Vardy, while deadline day signing Wout Faes missed out having not received his visa in time for the match.
The Foxes got off to an ideal start in Falmer, with Youri Tielemans winning it in midfield before offloading to Harvey Barnes. The Academy graduate allowed the ball to run into his path before he located Daka in the channel, the Zambia international then pulled it back to strike partner Iheanacho, who after only 52 seconds was able to sweep home his first strike of the season.
On three minutes, Thomas brought down Solly March just outside the box and received a yellow card. Pascal Groß backheeled the free-kick into the path of March, whose low drive hit Danny Welbeck en route to Danny Ward's goal, and flew wide of the target.
The hosts, after 10 minutes, were back level as March headed in Trossard's delivery from the left wing. At the far post, the ball deflected in off Thomas, who would be attributed with an own goal.
Soon, Brighton were 2-1 up. On the quarter-hour mark, Enock Mwepu cut off James Maddison's pass in midfield and drove forwards with the ball. He then picked out Caicedo, whose powerful shot found the back of the net.
After Wilfred Ndidi, operating at centre-back, blocked Welbeck's hit, there was a pause in play as City skipper Jonny Evans and Mwepu required treatment after an aerial collision. Both were able to continue and the match resumed at AMEX Stadium.
March fired into the stand on 28 minutes, and then Ward was caught in possession by Welbeck a minute later, however the Brighton striker lifted his shot onto the roof of the net.
City looked for a response, and a perfect pass from Tielemans saw the Belgium midfielder locate Zambia striker Daka, making his first Premier League start of the season, on 33 minutes. After beating Lewis Dunk in a footrace and bringing the ball under control, he finished well into the bottom corner to make it 2-2 and open his 2022/23 goalscoring account.
A big opportunity to make it 3-2 to City presented itself to Barnes three minutes before the interval, however his first-time attempt, which was created by a deflected Maddison pass, was parried to safety by Robert Sánchez. March then headed wide at the far post, and Caicedo blasted over in time added on – all square after 45 minutes.
Rodgers made one change to his side at half-time, with Timothy Castagne replacing Barnes, prompting a change in stratagem in turn. Brighton, though, thought they had got themselves back in front two minutes into the second half as Mac Allister lashed a stunner into the top corner, but the goal was disallowed by VAR for offside against Mwepu in the build-up.
Wales international Ward made a good save at his near post just after the hour mark as he stood in the way of Mwepu's strike, however he could do nothing about Brighton's next attack as Trossard tucked Groß's pass into the bottom corner for 3-2 on 64 minutes.
Tielemans and Daka tried to combine for another goal shortly after, however the latter steered his effort over Sánchez's crossbar. At the other end, Ward pulled off a fine stop to palm March's shot behind for a corner-kick.
Although City ably dealt with that set-play, not long after, Ndidi conceded a penalty for a foul on Trossard. VAR checked it, however the on-pitch decision stood, and Mac Allister stepped up to convert from 12 yards – 4-2 to the hosts with just under 20 minutes to play.
In a bid to salvage something from the match, a trio of City substitutions, with Daniel Amartey, Dewsbury-Hall and Vardy all coming on. Vardy's introduction meant he became the Club's joint-top Premier League appearance maker alongside Kasper Schmeichel with 279 now to his name.
With 78 minutes on the clock, Ward was alert to Groß's shot, turning it behind, while the Foxes No.1 had to tip a Groß corner over the crossbar five minutes later, and then gathered from March on 88 minutes.
With seven minutes of injury time to come, City continued their pursuit of more goals in the game, but the Seagulls were defensively solid and added a fifth via a stunning Mac Allister free-kick.
Major moment – Trossard restores Brighton's lead
In a topsy-turvy encounter, Brighton emerged as victors, and it was Leandro Trossard's strike which made it 3-2 to the hosts, turning the game back in favour of the Seagulls. Alexis Mac Allister later doubled his side's advantage from 12 yards, and then scored a brilliant free-kick for 5-2.
Where do we stand? – 20th
In the 2022/23 Premier League standings, City remain in 20th position.
Coming up – Aston Villa (H)
Next weekend, Aston Villa visit King Power Stadium (3pm kick-off) ahead of a trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to tackle Antonio Conte's in-form side on Saturday 17 September (2pm kick-off).
The numbers...
All times BST.