Man City Leapfrog Arsenal to Summit of Premier League

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League after Kevin de Bruyne’s world-class free-kick broke down Leicester City’s stubborn resistance at the King Power Stadium.

Foxes’ manager Brendan Rodgers had clearly set up his team to do a containing job on the reigning champions and it had worked effectively until De Bruyne curled a magnificent strike into the top corner from 25 yards four minutes after half-time.

De Bruyne’s goal was reward for City’s dominance, even though they missed the killer touch of the absent Erling Haaland, who has been suffering from a fever and a foot injury.

Elsewhere, Crysencio Summerville scored a dramatic late winner as Leeds stunned Liverpool 2-1 to damage the Reds’ top-four hopes and move out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The hosts had lost to bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Forest in their last league outing but were hoping to build on their dominant 3-0 win at Ajax in the Champions League in midweek.

However, they made the worst possible start against a Leeds side who started the day in the bottom three when a poor back pass by Joe Gomez was pounced on by Rodrigo, who poked into an empty net.

Liverpool responded well and equalised soon after when Mohamed Salah volleyed in from Andy Robertson’s cross.

But Leeds, belying their lowly position in the table, showed great hunger in response to that equaliser and hit the woodwork through Brenden Aaronson.

And, in the final minute of normal time, Summerville picked up the ball from Patrick Bamford before firing across Alisson to send the away support wild.

The defeat – Liverpool’s second in a row in the Premier League – means they are ninth and eight points off the top four, while Leeds move up to 15th.