Leicester City strengthened their status as Premier League challengers as the league-leaders stormed to a shock 3-1 victory against Manchester City on Saturday.

The Foxes made a bright start to the game after defender Robert Huth handed his side an early lead inside three minutes, scrambling in a Riyad Mahrez free-kick from close-range.

Jamie Vardy came close to making it 2-0 just minutes later after latching onto a clipped pass from Marc Albrighton, only to be denied one-on-one by City keeper Joe Hart.

City had half-hearted appeals for a penalty turned down before the interval as Manuel Pellegrini’s side left the field to boos, returning to concede an early goal against Mahrez on 48 minutes.

A double substitution saw Fabian Delph and Yaya Toure replaced just six minutes into the second half as City, who had just one shot on target in the first, introduced Fernando and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Yet it didn’t prevent Huth adding a second goal – and Leicester’s third – on the hour mark towering home a header from a corner to put Ranieri’s side into an unassailable lead.

Sergio Aguero pulled a goal back three minutes from time to reduce the damage, yet Leicester held off any late comeback to extend their lead at the top of the table to six points.

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