Watch Manchester City vs Leicester live on Sky Sports Premier League on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm
Saturday 21 December 2019 18:15, UK
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers insists the Premier League title race is far from over as they prepare for a crucial match against defending champions Manchester City.
Leicester travel to the Etihad on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Premier League, knowing that a win would cut the gap to league leaders Liverpool to seven points ahead of their Boxing Day clash at the King Power Stadium.
Rodgers believes it is too early in the season to be crowning his former club as champions-elect and insists there is still a long way to go in the title race.
"At the beginning of the season nobody really expected us to be in the position that we're in," he said.
"However, for us, we have a belief in our work and how we work. The players have been absolutely first class throughout the season and this is another opportunity for us.
"We're not even at the halfway point [of the season]. There is still so much football to play.
"People will look at it at this stage of the season and try and say that Liverpool have maybe won the title and Manchester City won't, or will Leicester do it again?
"It is still so early. You have just got to approach each game, be really focused and looked to bring the best quality game that you can."
Leicester are unbeaten in their last 11 matches and are four points above Manchester City in the table but Rodgers has played down talk of the Foxes being favourites to win on Saturday.
"They are the champions and a top-class team with an incredible manager who has really developed them over this last few seasons," said Rodgers.
"The last time I watched them they were pretty good form. We know the task that is ahead for us but that is what we relish.
"We relish the challenge of playing against these big teams that are up there and have got top-class performers.
"We get the chance to show how we've grown and developed as a team, looking to take on that challenge."
When managing Liverpool, Rodgers helped a 17-year-old Raheem Sterling break into the first team and make a name for himself in the Premier League.
The Leicester boss admitted his admiration for Sterling, as he prepares to try and keep the England international quiet during Saturday's clash with City.
Rodgers said: "When we put him into the team he played with such intensity, such drive and quality, and there were lots of positions he played in for me because he was so versatile, such an incredible young footballer.
"But he always had the hunger to learn, and when he left to go to Manchester City, you could see that hunger to improve.
"With Pep's coaching he has developed into a consistently world-class operator, and he will believe himself there is still a lot more to come.
"Off the field, he was a great boy, and he always stood up for what he believed in as well, off the pitch and on it.
"It's been fantastic to see his development from a young player at 17 into a world-class talent.
"And people will tell you he is still the same, a humble young guy who is not frightened to work, and has this amazing talent that he works at."
