Jamie Vardy treble helps Leicester crush Manchester City

Jamie Vardy hit a hat-trick as Leicester City found form to thump Manchester City 4-2 and leave Pep Guardiola facing suggestions his side are in crisis.

England forward Vardy ended a 741-minute run without a Premier League strike with the opener before adding a second on 20 minutes after Andy King had curled in from distance.

Vardy then completed his treble in the second half thanks to a howler of a backpass from John Stones before an Aleksandar Kolarov free kick and a smart finish from Nolito reduced the arrears late on.

Claudio Ranieri's men had gone into the contest just one point above the drop zone with many questioning whether the champions were set for a long battle with relegation, but they gave a sharp riposte as Guardiola and co were left shell-shocked.

With the Champions League now off the agenda until February, the hosts finally found last season's league form and the manner in which they went about securing this result suggests they are fully focused on improving their fortunes on the domestic front.

In stark contrast, the visitors have now kept just one clean sheet in 17 games and all the talk of crisis will be being directed at Guardiola post-match as his team's defensive deficiencies continue to be brutally exposed.

It leaves Man City in fourth spot, four points off first-placed Arsenal with the possibility they could fall seven points adrift of the leaders, if Chelsea win at home to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

New boss, same old problems for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola must be counting the days until January. The Spaniard will know his defence needs some major surgery. They continue to ship goals at an alarming rate and with question marks over the long-term fitness and form of Vincent Kompany, it's clear the current line-up at the back isn't up to scratch.

The Citizens arrived at the King Power with the spotlight on underachieving Leicester, but leave knowing their porous nature will be the hot topic of debate. City have spent millions on their defence in recent seasons and have yet to come up with the answer. Guardiola needs to decide on a line-up and stick to it. He made his 50th change to his Premier League starting XI in Leicester and it's clear there is a lack of cohesion and understanding when they are forced to defend.

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City): Revelled in the space afforded to him. The striker has found his touch at just the right time for the champions and it bodes well for their hopes of climbing the table in the weeks ahead.

Leicester: Zieler 7, Simpson 7, Morgan 7, Huth 7, Fuchs 7, Mahrez 8, King 8, Amartey 7, Albrighton 7, Slimani 8, Vardy 9. Subs: Okazaki 5, Gray n/a, James n/a.

Manchester City: Bravo 5, Sagna 5, Zabaleta 5, Kolarov 5, Stones 4, Fernando 6, Gündogan 5, Navas 5, De Bruyne 6, Silva 5, Iheanacho 6. Subs: Sterling 6, Toure 6, Nolito 6.

3' - GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Man City. A superb start for Leicester. Vardy ends his barren spell as he runs into the right of the area and lashes Islam Slimani's slide-rule pass into the far corner. Lovely touch by Mahrez to set the move in motion too.

5' - GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Man City. The Foxes are in dreamland! It's 2-0 and it's a wonderful strike from Andy King. The midfielder curves a first-time 20-yard effort into the top corner from Slimani's lay-off. Woeful defending from a long throw by the visitors.

20' - GOAL! Leicester 3-0 Man City. Vardy makes it three! Man City are all over the place at the back. Mahrez touches a sublime first-time volley from a long pass into the path of Vardy, who rounds Bravo and tucks home.

78' - HAT-TRICK! Leicester 4-0 Man City. Stones doesn't look and his backpass to Bravo is pounced upon by Vardy. The forward rounds the keeper and rolls a shot from a tight angle that hits the post and just about makes it over the line. Goal-line technology has the final say and the match ball and the points are going to Vardy and his Leicester teammates.

82' - GOAL! Leicester 4-1 Man City. Kolarov curves a sublime free kick over the wall and into Zieler's left-hand corner.

90' - GOAL! Leicester 4-2 Man City. Nolito side foots home Kolarov's low ball in to further reduce the arrears.

Jamie Vardy's goal ended a Premier League goal drought of 741 minutes.

Man City conceded twice in the opening five minutes of a PL game for the first time since October 2006 v Wigan.

Mahrez assisted Jamie Vardy in the Premier League for the first time since February vs Liverpool.

Vardy scored his first ever Premier League hat-trick in what is his 85th appearance in the competition.