Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Leicester City and Manchester City. Just over a week has passed since these two teams met in the EFL Cup, but the stakes remain high as both clubs look to register a victory on Boxing Day.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the two starting lineups, beginning with the home side...

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Choudhury, Mendy, Ndidi; Albrighton, Maddison, Vardy

LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Ward, Simpson, Evans, Iborra, Gray, Ghezzal, Okazaki

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Delph; Gundogan, De Bruyne; Sane, B.Silva, Sterling; Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Muric, Walker, D.Silva, Mahrez, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Foden

Puel was always unlikely to make any changes to his Leicester side after the win at Chelsea, and the Frenchman has opted to select the same first XI. It means that Jamie Vardy remains in the starting lineup despite an ongoing groin problem.

Marc Albrighton could have potentially been replaced by Demarai Gray on one of the flanks, but the more experienced player of the two is selected by Puel.

Hamza Choudhury has retained his place in the middle of the park having impressed in the last two games. It gives Leicester a more solid look in the centre and frees up Wilfred Ndidi to get further forward.

The main team news on the bench is that Kelechi Iheanacho does not feature in the 18-man squad, with Shinji Okazaki being preferred to the Nigerian. It will be interesting to see if Iheanacho is still at Leicester at the start of February.

As far as Manchester City are concerned, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero both return to the starting lineup. De Bruyne is being used in central midfield alongside Ilkay Gundogan with John Stones dropping back into defence.

Aguero has replaced Gabriel Jesus - who does not feature in the 18-man squad - but the rest of the attack remains the same with Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling all keeping their place in the team.

However, there are two alterations at the back with Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi dropping out of the team. Danilo gets a rare start at right-back. Fabian Delph has been kept on the left-hand side of the backline.

David Silva has recovered from injury to take his place on the substitutes' bench, while Riyad Mahrez must do with a spot among the replacements against his former club.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at Craven Cottage and Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers have played out a 1-1 draw. Ryan Sessegnon gave Fulham the lead soon after coming off the bench, but Romain Saiss was able to salvage a late point for the visitors.

That result is enough for Wolves to move ahead of Leicester in the table. Wolves now sit in ninth place, while Leicester are a point adrift of the West Midlands outfit.

'Foxes never quit'. They may have to keep that message in mind this afternoon...

Time to warm up! ⏰#LeiMci pic.twitter.com/FJnXR2bsiR — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 26, 2018

Puel reportedly finds himself under pressure at the East Midlands outfit, and the reason for that is mainly down to the club's home form. Just 18 points have come from 15 games at the King Power Stadium since February.

It has been a different story as far as their away form is concerned. Fourteen points have already come from 10 away matches this season, and it has effectively kept Puel in a job.

There have been few issues with the defensive side of their game. Just 21 goals have been conceded in 18 matches, and it leaves Leicester with the joint fifth-best record in the top flight.

However, improvements are required at the other end. Maddison and Vardy have scored half of Leicester's 22 goals in the Premier League this season, with no other player netting more than twice.

Let's turn our attention to Manchester City now who are looking to avoid a third defeat in four games. They are also attempting to avoid back-to-back away setbacks for the first time in nearly two years.

However, City do like playing on Boxing Day. They have emerged victorious on each of the last four occasions, and eight times in 10 attempts

Rather surprisingly, City have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight Premier League games. Six had been achieved in the previous eight-match period.

City have already reached 50 goals before the halfway point of the top flight. However, no player is yet to reach double figures with Sterling currently the top scorer on nine strikes.

Here are the highlights from when Leicester last hosted Man City in the Premier League...

A repeat of our last league visit to Leicester would make it a brilliant Boxing Day! ⚽️#LEIMCI #mancity pic.twitter.com/kv1WxLUHgL — Manchester City (@ManCity) December 24, 2018

PREDICTION! Guardiola is aware that his Manchester City side cannot afford a second surprise defeat in quick succession, and we expect last year's champions to produce a much-improved display. Leicester will likely adopt similar tactics to the strategy which worked against Chelsea, but City pose much more of a threat in the final third. Man City to prevail by a 3-1 scoreline.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's clash will represent the 117th competitive contest between the two clubs, with Man City registering 58 wins in comparison to 29 victories for Leicester.

The Foxes recorded a 4-2 triumph over City in December 2016, but Guardiola's side have since prevailed in each of the last five matches. However, Man City required a penalty shootout to get the better of Leicester when the teams met in the EFL Cup last week.

Liverpool's encounter with Newcastle United and Manchester United's home contest with Huddersfield Town are also among the games to kick off at 3pm, GMT, and you can access both fixtures by clicking on the respective match above.

It's time for the two teams to start making their way out at the King Power Stadium. This is almost like a free game for Puel with regards to his future at the club, but the Frenchman will know that a positive result against the champions will leave him in a strong position going forward.

A reminder of the two starting lineups...

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Choudhury, Mendy, Ndidi; Albrighton, Maddison, Vardy

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Delph; Gundogan, De Bruyne; Sane, B.Silva, Sterling; Aguero

KICKOFF:  We are underway at the King Power Stadium.

De Bruyne will be looking to get crosses into the box from a deep area this afternoon and it takes just a couple of minutes for the Belgiuan to do just that. However, Leicester deal with the danger well.

Man City are continuing to have the better of the opening stages, but we are still to have a shot on goal. Leicester are sitting relatively deep and inviting pressure.

Leicester continue to do plenty of chasing and Vardy ends up bringing a halt to the play with a late sliding challenge. It could be an afternoon where the forward does not see much of the ball.

Delph is finding himself in attacking areas down the left rather than at the back but the Englishman is yet to cause much of a threat from crossing positions.

It has been an uneventful start at the King Power Stadium, but both sides will be satisfied with their opening to the game. Leicester are going to have to keep their discipline without the ball.

GOAL!  Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City (Bernardo Silva)

Just like that, Man City take the lead. Leicester drop too deep and after receiving a pass around 30 yards out, Aguero pokes the ball through to Bernardo Silva who converts from inside the area after beating the offside trap.

© Reuters

This could turn into a long afternoon for Leicester. They are naturally wary of conceding a second in quick succession, but they are gifting the visitors far too much space.

Man City win a corner on the left-hand side and although Sane's delivery is a threatening one, the referee spots an infringement.

GOAL!  Leicester City 1-1 Manchester City (Marc Albrighton)

What a response from Leicester! The Foxes break forward through Vardy down the left and after cutting back onto his right foot, the forward finds the run of Albrighton at the back post and the winger sends a header into the opposite corner.

© Reuters

It's another game without City keeping a clean sheet. They have only recorded one shutout in nine attempts. It must be a concern for Guardiola. Leicester have their tails up here.

SHOT!  This is ambitious even for the likes of De Bruyne. The playmaker decides to try to find the far top corner from 25 yards, but Schmeichel was never going to be beaten from there and the Dane makes a comfortable save.

Man City are back on the front foot again and Sane will be disappointed that no-one was there to convert his brilliant volleyed cross back across goal.

De Bruyne is becoming an increasing threat in this contest. The Belgian is almost played in behind the Leicester backline but a defender gets across to put the ball out for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Leicester are being sucked into Man City's kind of match. The home side still look a threat on the counter, but offensive moves are not being put together often enough.

We have had two goals but there has been few few shots in this match. On the whole, I suppose that Leicester are doing an effective job.

Man City have just enjoyed some possession down the right-hand side of the pitch with Sterling getting on the ball, but it comes to nothing. The England international has been quiet in this game.

Puel has decided to tinker with his system. It has resulted in Choudhury being moved out to the right flank to try to keep Sane quiet. It's hair versus hair. We will be careful not to get mixed up.

CHANCE!  Man City put together a neat move which starts down the left before the ball is played inside for Aguero. The Argentine decides to take the shot on first time, but the forward hooks an effort over the bar from eight yards out.

SHOT!  Leicester fire back by dispossessing Bernardo Silva and Vardy being able to get into the penalty area, but the Englishman's shot from in the box is saved by Ederson.

SHOT!  In all fairness to Leicester, they are making a good fist of this as we approach half time. Maddison is the next player to get a shot away, but it goes off target.

SHOT!  Leicester win a free kick in a deep position and City do not deal with the set piece. The ball falls to Maguire, but the centre-back slices a volley high over the crossbar.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

HALF TIME:  Leicester City 1-1 Manchester City

The half-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and we remain on level terms with Albrighton cancelling out Bernardo Silva's earlier effort. Man City have had most of the ball, but Leicester came back into the contest towards the end of the first half.

Both goals had a touch of class about them. City's opener was a textbook Guardiola strike, with a neat pass finding Aguero and the Argentine sliding the ball through to Bernardo Silva to provide the finish. The equaliser would have regarded as textbook Claudio Ranieri had he still been there, with Vardy breaking down the left before giving Albrighton the chance to head home at the back post.

The two teams are making their way back out for the second half. It does not look like any changes have been made.

Leicester get us back underway!

LATEST! Liverpool have just gone 2-0 ahead against Newcastle United. Man City will be six points adrift of the Merseyside giants should they not register a victory this afternoon.

Not much has happened at the start of this second half. Leicester have gone back into their defensive shell and City are happy to probe and spray the ball about.

SHOT!  Leicester put together a move in the final third and if forces Man City to retreat. Maddison tries his luck from around 25 yards out, but the playmaker cannot get enough curl on his effort.

It's worth mentioning that Leicester have had two more shots than Man City in this match. It's not very often that Guardiola's side only have five efforts in 54 minutes.

Leicester have probably been the better team since the restart. It surely won't be long before Guardiola looks to make a change. Schmeichel is not being tested.

YELLOW CARD!  Maguire goes into the book for a late challenge on Bernardo. The England international can have no complaints.

Man City are started to get the ball into the middle a lot more than they had been doing. The subtle approach has not been that effective, so they are looking to put Morgan and Maguire under more pressure.

Aguero's work-rate has previously been questioned, but the forward has just tracked back, won the ball off Pereira and earned a free kick for his side. His teammates need to follow that example.

SUBSTITUTION! Leicester make the first change with Gray coming on for Choudbury. That's bold from Puel...

Man City are starting to boss the ball again. That is only likely to continue with the scoreline remaining at 1-1. You have to wonder whether Puel will continue with this system because his side are being put under constant pressure.

Back come Leicester and Laporte has to make a last-ditch challenge to prevent Vardy from getting a shot on target. Vardy has dealt in scraps today but has remained effective.

SHOT!  Aguero runs in-field from the right and it leaves him having to get a shot away with his left. The Argentine is capable but his effort is always rising over the bar.

SUBSTITUTION! Man City finally make their first change with David Silva replacing De Bruyne.

Sane has looked a threat every time that he has received the ball on the left but on this occasion, the German's low cross is collected by Schmeichel.

SHOT!  The pressure continues with Delph being given the space to get a shot away with his weaker right foot, but Schmeichel makes a relatively comfortable save from 20 yards out.

SHOT!  A cross is delivered from the right and Aguero is able to get onto it at the back post, but the forward gets his connection all wrong and the ball goes harmlessly wide.

YELLOW CARD!  Stones goes into the book for a challenge on the flank. However, there is very little contact with Gray.

SUBSTITUTION! Leicester make a second change with Simpson being introduced for Maddison.

Just the 10 minutes to go now and there is pressure on both clubs heading into these closing stages. Man City are giving up more ground in the title race if they don't find a winner.

GOAL!  Leicester City 2-1 Manchester City (Ricardo Pereira)

Leicester take the lead and it is an absolute stunner from Pereira! A corner from the right is poor but the ball is only half-cleared into the path of Pereira, who unleashes a thunderous strike into the far corner from 20 yards out. Ederson had no chance.

SUBSTITUTION! Guardiola has acted by introducing Mahrez, who has taken the place of Bernardo Silva.

Just the five minutes left and Man City are fighting to avoid dropping down to third place. Who would have thought that a few weeks ago! Leicester are happy to defend now.

YELLOW CARD!  Vardy goes into the book for kicking the ball away. I don't think that he will mind too much.

SHOT!  Decent chance for Man City. The ball finds its way to Sane on the edge of the area, but the German sends a powerful effort high over the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTION! Okazaki is on to take the place of Vardy.

RED CARD!  Delph has been dismissed for Man City! The stand-on left-back wins the ball but catches Pereira with his follow-through. It feels a bit harsh, but he gave the referee a decision to make.

YELLOW CARD!  Aguero goes into the book for dissent. There will be four minutes of added-on time.

Just the two minutes to go and it is Leicester who have the ball. Man City are going seven points behind Liverpool...

FULL TIME:  Leicester City 2-1 Manchester City

The full-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and Leicester have held on to register a 2-1 win! Bernardo had given City an early lead, but goals from Albrighton and Pereira have given the Foxes a hugely impressive triumph. They have now defeated Chelsea and Man City in the space of four days! City now sit seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool...

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope that you can stick around for the game between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal. Goodbye for now.