STILL UP FOUR

Pep’s boys get a scare.. but City’s stars keep their Quad dream alive

UNSTOPPABLE in the Premier League, dominant in the Champions League, rattled in the Carabao Cup.

But Pep Guardiola’s side found a way to keep alive their dreams of a Quadruple by beating a Leicester side which refused to buckle like so many have done this season.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez missed penalties in the shootout while City scored all their four to win 4-3. Vardy’s injury-time spotkick had cancelled out Bernardo Silva’s opener to send the tie into extra time and then the shootout.

Despite making nine changes, City had started well, there was still the same impressive trademark passing, pressing, possession and penetration.

The visitors should have led by more than 1-0 at the break following Silva’s 26th-minute opener (above).

They weren’t at their clinical best without the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.

Yet their success and squad depth was a vivid reminder why only a fool would bet against the title heading to the Etihad given their 11-point lead. And this result only increases admiration for mastermind Guardiola with a much-changed side.

One spectator begged to differ as a pitch invader was carted off seemingly giving Guardiola a volley of abuse. But it was arguably the visitors’ most difficult moment as Leicester played into City’s hands by making seven changes of their own. Ilkay Gundogan and Eliaquim Mangala were the only survivors from the Premier League leaders’ 4-1 win over Spurs.

Foxes boss Claude Puel gave a first start to Kelechi Iheanacho against his old club. Islam Slimani was omitted altogether in the latest sign yet Leicester’s record buy will be leaving next month. The visitors were in control from the start as