Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table for the first time since August with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Leicester.
In a cagey affair, it took a world-class free-kick from Kevin de Bruyne to separate the two sides. The Belgium international fired the ball home from the best part of 30 yards out to earn City a much-needed away victory, having previously failed to score in their last three on the road.
It is a victory that moves City above Arsenal at the summit, with Pep Guardiola's side getting the job done without their talisman Erling Haaland, who was ruled out through injury. Despite missing Haaland, City reminded everyone of the dominance they have shown in previous years without the Norwegian as they bossed the game en route to three points.
Here are five talking points from the King Power Stadium.
World-class De Bruyne
When the conversation comes up about the best midfielders in Premier League history, De Bruyne is often not talked about. There is definitely an argument to be made for the Belgian, however, and he showed exactly why with an outrageous free-kick against Leicester.
With the scores level just after half-time, De Bruyne was offered an opportunity from a dead ball situation after Jack Grealish was fouled just outside the penalty area. The 31-year-old, who took up a similar technique to Cristiano Ronaldo, struck the ball so sweetly as it dipped over the wall and hit the post before finding the back of the net.
It was a strike of pure quality from De Bruyne, who hasn't scored as many goals as he may have hoped this season, but that was one he can add to the show reel. Alan Shearer was impressed with De Bruyne's strike and said: "Oh jeez man KDB."
Rock-solid City
When Kyle Walker went down against Manchester United at the start of the month, many City fans were concerned. With Joao Cancelo excelling at left-back, City had no direct replacement on the right side of the back four, but Guardiola, as he always does, found a solution.
The Spaniard has been playing with a centre-back in that position, and it was John Stones who was given that responsibility for the trip to Leicester. Manuel Akanji partnered Aymeric Laporte in central defence, and although they didn't have recognised right-back on the pitch, City looked very comfortable and didn't allow Leicester much at all.
In actual fact, Leicester had just four shots on target, and two of those came from long-range, including Youri Tielemans' thumping effort that was tipped onto the bar by Ederson, who was superb throughout. Despite a late surge from the Foxes, City controlled the game and gained their 10th clean sheet of the campaign, and only Newcastle have conceded more goals than them this season.
No Haaland
For the first time this season, Haaland was not named in a City squad as Guardiola's side travelled to the King Power Stadium. The Spaniard revealed in his pre-match press conference that the Norwegian had recovered from his fever but was out with a foot injury he picked up in City's goalless draw against Borussia Dortmund.
Haaland, who has scored 17 Premier League goals in 11 matches so far this season, hadn't missed a game until the clash with Leicester, and it is safe to say Brendan Rodgers was delighted with the news. He told BT Sport: "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sliding on my knees when I heard he (Haaland) wasn't playing!"
Meanwhile, Guardiola provided an update on the forward in his pre-match press conference. He said: "Yeah, [He] recovered from the fever, from being tired but not from the knock."
Alvarez misses opportunity
With Haaland ruled out, Guardiola offered Julian Alvarez a rare opportunity through the middle. However, the Argentine failed to impress throughout the game, although he did struggle for service with Leicester defending superbly, especially during the first-half.
Alvarez had just 12 touches throughout the entire game, and failed to have a shot on goal. He also didn't win any of four duels and acted as a passenger as Leicester shut out City until De Bruyne came up with a wonderstrike. Whether Alvarez keeps his place is another question depending on Haaland's fitness, but he didn't do his chances very well at all with his performance in the East Midlands.
Grealish boos
Every time Grealish received the ball, he was greeted with a loud jeer from the home supporters. The 27-year-old has history with the Foxes, after scoring his first-ever Premier League goal against Leicester seven years ago, before making the challenge that ruptured Ricardo Pereira's Anterior Cruciate Ligament in March 2020.
Leicester fans have previously taken aim at Grealish in the past, and it didn't change as he was booed loudly throughout the game. The England international was sharp during the first-half, and felt he should've been awarded a penalty as he went down following a challenge from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
However, referee Robert Jones waved away appeals - to the delight of the Foxes faithful - and it seemed as though the cheer was louder given it was Grealish who was on the end of the tackle. Grealish also took every City corner from their left-hand side, and Leicester fans taunted him before and after he delivered the ball into the box.
