Manchester City did what they desired: beat Leicester to keep their title defence in their hands, just as Arsenal rove into view for a seismic showdown here next week.
For Dean Smith, this first match of a tenure that will finish at the end of the season was always going to be one to chalk off in his side’s fight to beat the drop.
Towards the end Kelechi Iheanacho tapped in after a mix-up between Kalvin Phillips and Ederson but it was a consolation only.
Before that, Erling Haaland scored twice to take his tally to 32 in the Premier League this season, the competition’s best return since Alan Shearer’s 34 in 1994-5.
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