Telegraph:
Leicester City 2 Chelsea 1
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez put Jose Mourinho on the brink
Table-topping Foxes edge beleaguered manager nearer to the exit door, one point above drop zone
By Jason Burt
If not the end then this felt very much like it. Chelsea lost again, a ninth Premier League defeat of this crazy season, and with it their league title, their hopes of a top four finish and, quite possibly, their manager have also now gone.
The way in which Jose Mourinho appeared to turn on his players afterwards – despite still praising the “spirit” – spoke of a man struggling. Struggling with himself as much as what is happening around him.
He talked of being “betrayed” (an incredible choice of word); he spoke of having taken the players to “beyond their level” last season through his own “phenomenal” work – note the choice of pronoun – and he appeared to hang Eden Hazard out to dry when the forward came off injured.
Mourinho also hooked John Terry after a hapless display and he even turned on the Leicester City ball-boys for being a “disgrace” and time-wasters. He ran the gamut of tired excuses and deflecting blame but it feels, and has felt for some time, as if the players are no longer listening.
Are the Chelsea board? Is Roman Abramovich? They have shown patience and Mourinho reiterated that he will fight on – that he wants to fight on – but it is appearing increasingly untenable. It is just not good enough.
Chelsea sit just one point above the bottom three and face Sunderland at home on Saturday. It is, quite astonishingly, a relegation six-pointer.
What a descent. What a collapse.
It simply beggars belief. It defies logic and maybe that is saving Mourinho. After all, it was here that Mourinho effectively sealed the title just seven months ago with a 3-1 victory that left them as champions-elect with one more victory needed. So it is here also that his own fate might be sealed.
Back then it was Leicester fighting for their lives and now, incredibly, they are fighting for the title themselves and deservedly so. The brilliance of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy illuminated this performance yet again with each scoring wonderful goals.
Leicester returned to the top of the table with this exhilarating victory and no team in the Premier League era has finished outside the top four after being top after 16 games.
Leicester are in Champions League contention, at the very least, maybe more. They are five points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. They are 20 points clear of Chelsea and that appears almost insane.
There was one last storyline to relay. This was a win for Claudio Ranieri against the club that sacked him in 2004 because he was not deemed good enough and they wanted to make way for Mourinho’s first coming. Now he may be the man sending The Special One on his way. A special revenge? He will not say that. But he might have felt it as he celebrated exuberantly at the final whistle.
That came after five minutes of added time with Chelsea finally able to find a response – having pulled a goal back through substitute Loïc Rémy (why does Mourinho not use him more?) – and desperately trying to fight for a point.
Maybe that response might buy Mourinho yet more time. Maybe not. Chelsea are waiting and waiting and desperately hoping for something to happen. It is a new departure. Never before has Abramovich allowed a manager to carry on once Chelsea are not competitive; not fighting for that top four.
Maybe that last 16 place in the Champions League will buy Mourinho yet more time although a draw against Paris Saint-Germain will not have been met with any relish. Can Abramovich let it carry on until that February fixture?
A January transfer window looms. Again can Mourinho be trusted? Will Chelsea try to buy their way out of this and if they do so will it be the manager or the club acquiring the players?
So many questions. So few answers. It kind of sums up Chelsea right now.
For Leicester there are so many solutions. Ranieri lost Danny Drinkwater to injury – on came Andy King who was excellent. As was every player in their rich blue shirts who again responded to one of the most vibrant atmospheres in the country.
They had the clappers out again at kick-off with a message written on them by Vardy. “Hearing the roar of the crowd makes us believe anything is possible,” it read and there was that sense reverberating around the stadium once more.
Mahrez set the tone. He nutmegged Hazard, he feinted away from Terry and he forced Thibaut Courtois – who appeared curiously nervous – into a save.
Inside two minutes. Every time the Algerian had the ball there was trickery that spread panic. There is no more skilful player in this league and he created Vardy’s goal as he delivered a clever low, curling cross with the striker stealing in between Terry and Kurt Zouma to guide his volley into net. The decibels climbed.
It was feisty too with Hazard limping off from Vardy’s challenge and then Vardy booked for diving in on Diego Costa who was again a shadow of what he can be. Wes Morgan had him in his pocket. Who would have thought it… Leicester simply appeared to want it more and doubled their advantage when Mahrez deftly brought down Marc Albrighton’s deep cross to twist and turn a bamboozled César Azpilicueta before curling a marvellous left-foot shot beyond Courtois.
Leicester were fearless. Off went Terry, on came Cesc Fàbregas and Rémy with Chelsea going to three at the back. They created chances with Kasper Schmeichel saving with an outstretched leg as Costa was put clear and Danny Simpson denying Pedro after heading into the forward’s path. There was no way through. There may also be no way back.
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Independent:
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1: Vardy and Mahrez on target before late consolation from Loic Remy in match that heaps more pressure on Jose Mourinho
Mark Ogden King Power Stadium
Perhaps the time has come to think the unthinkable. Leicester City might just sustain their title challenge and Jose Mourinho could be out of a job by Christmas.
There comes a point when what appear to be freak circumstances become the norm and Leicester’s credentials as potential Premier League champions can no longer be dismissed after Claudio Ranieri’s players moved to the top of the table by dismantling Chelsea.
Jamie Vardy’s 15th goal in 16 league games, followed by a Riyad Mahrez wonder goal, left Chelsea – champions in May – hovering just one point above the relegation zone.
Leicester were immense, their football pulsating, and they completely outplayed Mourinho’s team to the extent that the visitors appeared to have downed tools for the Special One. When that happens, a manager is always on borrowed time and even Mourinho cannot be safe now. The clock is ticking.
Despite responding to the 1-0 home defeat against Bournemouth with a decisive Champions League victory against Porto, Chelsea arrived at the King Power Stadium with their Premier League form continuing to be the issue most likely to curtail Mourinho’s time in charge.
The champions have been a fractured outfit all season, losing 10 games in all competitions prior to this fixture, and their demeanour was nervous rather than determined from the outset.
Eden Hazard’s disappearance down the tunnel after half an hour, with an apparent injury caused by an innocuous challenge by Vardy, was one of those moments when desire could legitimately be questioned.
Having been asked to return to the field by Mourinho following treatment, the Belgian took one look at the ball and made it clear he could not continue. Tests may yet reveal a genuine problem, but the challenge certainly did not suggest that Hazard had suffered a serious injury.
Up to that point, last season’s double Footballer of the Year had been on the periphery, just like most of his team-mates, as Leicester attempted to expose the cracks in Chelsea’s facade.
The gulf in confidence and belief between the two teams was clear. Leicester had lost just one league game in 19 outings since a 3-1 defeat here by Chelsea last April and they began the evening 17 points clear of the faltering champions.
At this stage last season, Chelsea were top with 39 points while Leicester were anchored to the foot of the Premier League with just 10 points, seemingly destined for relegation in their first campaign back in the top flight.
But the miraculous escape under Nigel Pearson has now been proved to be no fluke under Ranieri, who has added flair and style to a team deservedly riding high among the supposed Premier League superpowers.
Leicester’s self-belief helped them dominate the early stages, with Vardy’s pace and Mahrez’s trickery causing consternation at the back for the champions.
The loss to a hamstring injury of the impressive Danny Drinkwater should have given Chelsea encouragement, given the midfielder’s importance to the home side, but they could not capitalise and Leicester deservedly took the lead when Vardy extended his incredible scoring run on 34 minutes.
It was Mahrez’s cross from the right which opened Chelsea up, with John Terry and Kurt Zouma inexplicably allowing Vardy to run between them to flick the ball past Thibaut Courtois with his right boot.
Vardy wheeled away, arms outstretched in his now familiar celebratory pose, while Terry, Zouma and Courtois exchanged glares and shrugs as they attempted to apportion the blame.
Having taunted Chelsea’s visiting supporters with chants of “You’re going down with the Villa”, the Leicester fans then mirrored the confidence of their heroes by singing their belief that they will “win the Premier League”.
Early days yet, but perhaps those Buddhist monks who sprinkled holy water in the dressing room to bring Ranieri’s team luck are on to something.
Having edged ahead, Leicester emerged in the second half determined to force Chelsea back and Vardy’s heavy challenge on Diego Costa certainly served noticed of their intent.
Vardy won the ball, but it was a reckless challenge, one which left Costa floored before the Chelsea forward jumped to his feet to go head-to-head with the England striker.
Referee Mark Clattenburg booked Vardy for the challenge, but the card was worth it in banishing any sense Chelsea may have had that their opponents would take a backwards step.
That was a moment of street-fighting, of getting retaliation in first, but Leicester’s second goal two minutes later was a different matter entirely.
It was a thing of sheer beauty, with Mahrez making a fool of Cesar Azpilicueta with a tremendous piece of skill before curling a sumptuous left-foot strike beyond Courtois.
The Chelsea goalkeeper was at fault for gifting Leicester possession with a poor clearance which was intercepted by Andy King, but Marc Albrighton still had to deliver a pinpoint cross before Mahrez added the killer touch with one of those shimmies which would have left Azpilicueta with twisted blood.
The Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, watching from the directors’ box, will have relished the latest showcasing of the top flight’s ability to entertain. Leicester have clearly been good for business.
Vardy, Mahrez and Ranieri have all dazzled this season, so it was apt that they conspired to plunge Chelsea deeper into darkness. Other than a brief flourish on the hour, when Pedro, Costa and Azpilicueta all went close inside two minutes, Chelsea offered nothing until Loïc Rémy headed in Pedro’s cross on 77 minutes.
It was merely the twitching of a corpse. The nails are ready to be hammered into the coffin and it would be ironic if the final blow proves to be delivered by Ranieri, the man who made way for Mourinho way back in 2004.
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Guardian:
Vardy and Mahrez score to send Chelsea packing and Leicester top again
Leicester 2 - 1 Chelsea
Daniel Taylor at King Power Stadium
If anyone wanted evidence of what a wild and eccentric season this has become, it came during those moments when Leicester City – the team, lest it be forgotten, that began the season as 2,000-1 outsiders to win the title – started showboating against the side who call themselves Premier League champions but are hovering only a point above the relegation zone. Wes Morgan shimmied with the ball and eluded a couple of challenges. Riyad Mahrez played those lovely soft-touch passes. Jamie Vardy wanted to take on everyone and Leicester, almost implausibly, went back to the top of the league, enjoying the view.
They were brilliant, once again, and if the chasing pack are underestimating Claudio Ranieri’s team the story of this match should remove any complacency. Chelsea, in turn, have now lost five of their past seven league fixtures, leaving them fifth from bottom, and José Mourinho’s declaration that his players had “betrayed” him will bring another wave of scrutiny on an increasingly beleaguered manager. Mourinho, an expert in manipulating the headlines, used that word in virtually every interview and it felt like a calculated gamble on a night when John Terry was substituted and the faultlines appeared in the manager’s relationship with Eden Hazard.
If nothing else, Mourinho can take a glimmer of encouragement from the way his team fought to save themselves during the final exchanges. A header from the substitute Loïc Rémy ensured a nerve-shredding finale and the one redeeming feature for Chelsea was that they did show a flicker of the old spirit after Riyad Mahrez had made it 2-0.
Ultimately, though, it was another chastening experience for Mourinho and their nine defeats this season is the same number as the two previous seasons combined. Vardy added another goal to his collection and when Leicester are playing with this much vibrancy their supporters are allowed to wonder where it is all going to end.
“We’re going to win the league,” they sang, interspersed with the night’s best put-down, directed towards the away end, of “Jamie Vardy, he’s scored more than you”. It was not strictly true but the man who has just won back-to-back Premier League player-of-the-month awards now has 15 in the league, which is only three short of Chelsea’s total.
Vardy’s speed and directness were prominent features from the start, spreading anxiety among what used to be the most reliable and parsimonious defence in the country. He and Mahrez have a wonderful understanding and Ranieri was adamant afterwards that Leicester would not sell their most prized assets. “Nobody has the money,” he said matter-of-factly.
Ranieri cannot think any other way when the two players link up as exquisitely as they did for the opening goal. The cross came from the right, clipped over with the deft accuracy that has made Mahrez arguably the most effective wide player in the league. Vardy had already been involved in the build-up and as the ball was moved out wide he was already getting into position. Kurt Zouma hesitated for a split second. Terry was out of position and Vardy sent his volley past Thibaut Courtois with the confidence of a man who expects to score.
Chelsea’s position had been weakened shortly beforehand when Vardy, trying to win the ball in midfield, banged into Hazard and jarred the Belgian on his side. Chelsea’s medical staff sprayed Hazard’s lower back and hip but Mourinho initially instructed him to stay on while Pedro took off his tracksuit to warm up. Within moments the ball was played to Hazard but he was in so much discomfort he could barely move. He looked unimpressed, to say the least, that Mourinho had asked him to continue and there was an angry flick of his hand as he made his way past his manager.
Leicester had lost one of their own key players by that stage because of a hamstring injury for Danny Drinkwater but his replacement, Andy King, filled in seamlessly. There was a streak of confidence running through Ranieri’s team, encapsulated by the moment Mahrez slipped the ball through Ramires’s legs.
Three minutes into the second half, there was another demonstration of Mahrez’s gifts. He was on the right-hand side of the penalty area when Marc Albrighton’s long, crossfield pass picked him out. His control and footwork teased and tormented César Azpilicueta. The angle was tight but Mahrez has a rare knack for being able to put the ball where he wants it. He applied just the right mix of curl and pace and, with an elegant swish of his left foot, his shot curled around Azpilicueta and high into the far corner.
A lot will be made of Terry’s withdrawal but Mourinho was entitled to think the change to a three-man central defence improved his team. For the first time in the match, Chelsea started to play with width and penetration.
Willian, in particular, played with great spirit and Rémy’s goal, from Pedro’s left-wing cross, increased their hopes of a late feat of escapology. Leicester had to endure five minutes of stoppage time but Mourinho accepted afterwards that, on the balance of play, the better team had won. It was a night that ended with him fielding questions about his job and nobody can really be sure what Roman Abramovich does next.
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Mail:
Leicester City 2-1 Chelsea: Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez strikes lift Foxes to the top of the Premier League as Jose Mourinho's side lose again despite Loic Remy header
By NEIL ASHTON FOR THE DAILY MAIL
To put Claudio Ranieri’s achievement into context, Leicester are now 20 points clear of champions Chelsea.
The gap between first — where Leicester are sitting pretty — and a team one point off the drop zone feels like it will only get wider. Chelsea are a shambles.
What a remarkable evening for Leicester, returning to the top of the table by playing fast and loose in front of their own fans. Jose Mourinho’s team are another story.
Leicester possess qualities that Chelsea can only dream about right now: pace, passion, vitality, energy and enthusiasm.
Ranieri’s side have an old-fashioned approach and don’t we just love them for it? They are stirring our emotions.
This victory was engineered by the brilliance of Leicester’s magician on the right, Riyad Mahrez, and the clever runs of top scorer Jamie Vardy. Both were exceptional, both scored.
Loic Remy’s reply, scored after 77 minutes, was a mere footnote to Chelsea’s ninth abysmal defeat in the Premier League this season.
Cesc Fabregas, a 53rd-minute replacement for captain John Terry, was sitting on the Chelsea bus within five minutes of the final whistle. It seems he could not get away fast enough.
Chelsea could not cope on the pitch, unable to contain Mahrez, Vardy and the excellent Marc Albrighton on the left. The opening goal was a classic, Vardy losing his marker with a cleverly timed run into the area. It was made by Vardy and scored by him.
Mourinho later accused Terry and Kurt Zouma of ‘betrayal’ for ignoring work on the training pitch in the lead-up to this fixture.
But Leicester fans will still be talking about the move when they travel to Everton on Saturday, honouring the dazzling Vardy, Leonardo Ulloa and Mahrez.
Vardy began the move when he turned the ball around the corner to Ulloa and one touch later it was into the feet of Mahrez on the right.
The winger is a hypnotic figure, and he sent Chelsea’s defence into a trance while he waited for Vardy to make his run to the near post.
When he set off, losing Zouma and Terry in one sweeping move, Mahrez whipped in his cross and the forward scored his 15th goal of the Premier League season with a clever finish. He is unstoppable.
The place was raucous, urging Ranieri’s team to go for broke against a Chelsea team who threatened to buckle every time Vardy, Ulloa, Mahrez or Albrighton were on the ball.
Leicester play with an intensity that must be the envy of every supporter. They have only two speed settings: fast and very fast.
Ranieri’s side are back on top of the table, clear of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United after this incredible night.
Chelsea, even under the greatest trophy-hunting manager in history, have lost their purpose.
That was amplified by the behaviour of Eden Hazard towards his manager when the PFA Player of the Year took himself off in the 29th minute.
Hazard had been urged to carry on by Mourinho after he was twice nudged by Vardy and struggled to his feet after lengthy treatment. Moments later, when he failed to react to a simple pass by the touchline, he turned on his heels and headed straight for the tunnel. He humiliated Mourinho.
Where does the Portuguese go from here? He has lost his aura, he has lost the ability to lead. He cannot motivate the team any more. Chelsea are gone, giving up on their manager when he needed them to come through for him. This was a shameful performance.
There should have been a handful of bookings with Terry, Zouma and Oscar escaping punishment from an unusually lenient Mark Clattenburg. Life got much worse, though.
Mahrez scored Leicester’s second goal when he trapped Albrighton’s looping cross from the left in the 48th minute.
What happened next will live long in the memory of Leicester fans because he sent Cesar Azpilicueta out for a hot dog before beating Thibaut Courtois with a left-footed strike. This guy Mahrez is mustard.
Leicester were magnificent at the back, with captain Wes Morgan and Robert Huth in complete control in the heart of their defence. Diego Costa barely got a kick.
He got a whack at the start of the second half when Vardy was booked for clattering into him from behind, the start of a series of punishing fouls on the Chelsea forward.
After Mahrez’s stunner, Mourinho gambled everything on the decision to replace Terry with Fabregas. Pedro had a chance scrambled away, but he turned provider for Remy’s header that beat Kasper Schmeichel 13 minutes from time.
It increased the anxiety around the place, with Mourinho stalking the touchline and waiting for one of his players to conjure up that bit of magic in the final minutes.
Instead, this Chelsea side look a lost cause, one point off the relegation zone after the most spectacular collapse in the history of the Premier League.
As Mourinho knows all too well, being on top is all that counts.
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Mirror:
Leicester 2-1 Chelsea: 5 things we learned as Vardy and Mahrez crank up the pressure on Mourinho
BY JOE MEWIS , JAMES WHALING
Goals either side of the break from the in-form Foxes duo were enough to propel Claudio Ranieri's men to the top of the table
Champions Chelsea suffered their ninth defeat of the season as Leicester cranked up the pressure on Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
It was Jamie Vary - who else? - that put the Foxes in front, when he got on the end of a teasing Riyad Mahrez cross to finish first-time past Thibaut Courtois. He was due a goal, after all.
Things went from bad to worse for the Mourinho immediately after the break, as Mahrez turned from provider into goalscorer, turning Cesar Azpilicueta inside out and curling a shot into the roof of the net.
Second-half substitute Loic Remy pulled one back for the visitors with 13 minutes remaining as Mourinho's men looked to salvage at least a point, but it proved to only be a consolation.
The utterly convincing win for the Foxes leaves them 20 points clear of Chelsea as their fans begin to believe that a Champions League spot is theirs for the taking.
For Chelsea meanwhile, Mourinho's job prospects hang by a thread, as talk of a relegation battle increases with the Blues languishing in 16th place.
Here are five things we learned from a hectic night at the King Power.
Another dismal night for Jose Mourinho
After a decent showing in midweek against Porto, Mourinho kept faith with the XI that saw his side through to the last 16 as group winners.
He seemed chipper in his pre-match interview, and there was a feeling that three points this evening against one of the pace-setters could finally kickstart their season.
It didn't happen.
Chelsea were bang average, at best, once more, and Mourinho was left scratching his head on the touchline.
His decision to replace skipper John Terry with Cesc Fabregas was a particularly noteworthy moment.
Terry is coming back from a recent injury, but didn't seem in any discomfort. It wasn't a commanding display from the former England skipper, but he was no worse than anyone else in the defence.
Mourinho reshuffled the shape, and while Loic Remy gave them hope, it was ultimately to no avail. Was it the final throw of the dice from a desperate man?
Blues turning on each other?
As if the first goal wasn't enough of a problem for Chelsea, what followed showed just how much disharmony is in the camp among the Blues' struggling stars.
Diego Costa was less than impressed with how the defence reacted to Mahrez's ball into the box and Vardy's finish, and wasted no time in telling them.
He bellowed at the back four, before putting his hands to the side of his face and shutting his eyes in a sleeping motion.
Simply put: "Wake up."
While he may have had a point about the sluggish defending, carrying out the dressing down of teammates in the public eye probably wasn't the wisest move from the Spanish international, particularly given his own indifferent form.
Will the Vardy party ever end?
Almost inevitably, Jamie Vardy's frustrating one-game goal drought finally came to an end this evening.
The Foxes striker broke the Premier League record by scoring in 11 consecutive games, just in case you have been living in space over the last couple of months, before firing a blank as Leicester beat Swansea 3-0 in their last match.
It was a Riyad Mahrez hat-trick that did for the Swans, and the Algerian was the one to unlock the Blues' defence tonight.
You could say Cesar Azpilicueta should have been tighter to him, and you could say Kurt Zouma should have tracked Vardy's run better, but let's enjoy the goal for the sensational passage of football it was.
A pinpoint ball into the box and a tremendous near-post finish, from two players operating at the absolute prime of their powers.
Vardy showed his gritty side by clattering into Eden Hazard just moments earlier, forcing the Belgian down the tunnel, and his all-round game only seems to be getting better.
If he continues the form he is in now, he must be a shoo-in for Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 squad.
It could be a long way back for Cesc
Rather unsurprisingly, Jose Mourinho stuck with the same starting XI that did the business against Porto in the Champions League last week.
This meant that Cesc Fabregas was again named among the Chelsea substitutes, as he struggles to get over his slump in form. In came Ramires, as Jose goes back to old habits, favouring steel over style.
“Last year he had a huge responsibility for the quality of our team, he was fundamental," the Portuguese said last week.
"This season he is at the same level as the team and it is difficult to play especially well."
Only Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie has misplaced more passes than the former Arsenal skipper in the league this season and the fact that Chelsea turned in one of their best performances of the season against Porto doesn't bode for the Spain star.
The fans had already begun to turn on Fabregas before last week, with the general consensus being that he can only function in a side that's playing well around him and he's not the man to dig in.
But with Ramires' inclusion giving Chelsea a much sturdier base to build from, when can we expect to see last season's assist-king back in the starting line-up?
Not-so happy clappers
It's a great time to be a Leicester fan.
Spearheading one of the most entertaining title charges in years, with the country's most in-form striker and dynamic winger who can't stop scoring, the Foxes are making a mockery of pre-season predictions across the land. And the fans are loving it.
So why have the powers that be at the King Power decided that they need to hand stupid clapper things to all of the crowd?
It was a typically raucous atmosphere in the early stages, made far worse by the constant clacking sound coming from the stands.
Your team's top of the league. You've already got a passionate fanbase that know how to make some noise when they need to - so why bother?
The word 'tinpot' was a hair's breadth away from trending on Twitter, as fans also took to task the free crisps (personally, I can let that one pass) and the triangles that had been mowed into the pitch.
Come on Leicester, don't go changing just because you're top of the league...
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Express:
Leicester 2 - Chelsea 1: Vardy and Mahrez fire Foxes back above Arsenal into top spot
JAMIE VARDY and Riyad Mahrez put Leicester City fans in dreamland and their side firmly back on top of the Premier League as Chelsea’s miserable season continued at the King Power Stadium.
By GIDEON BROOKS
The pair struck either side of half time with their 15th and 12th top flight goals respectively on an electric night in the East Midlands which left Chelsea languishing one point above the relegation zone after a ninth league defeat.
Loic Remy gave Chelsea hope in the 77th minute, scoring with a close-range header from Pedro’s cross but Leicester held on for the three points.
While their fans may be tempted once again to pinch themselves as they take a look at the top of the table that sees them leading second placed Arsenal by two points, they can rest assured there was no fluke about last night’s result as they outbattled and outplayed Jose Mourinho’s lacklustre outfit.
Both managers had reflected on the fluctuating fortunes given that a year ago, Chelsea were flying clear at the top of the Premier League under Mourinho, Leicester were anchored to the foot of the table and Claudio Ranieri had been sacked by Greece a month earlier after losing to the Faroe Islands.
It has been some turnaround. With Leicester a point behind the leaders Arsenal before last night and Chelsea a point above the relegation zone both were occupying the other’s natural territory so effectively that it seemed appropriate that it was Leicester in the visitors natural navy blue.
The question on most people’s lips is how long can Chelsea continue to look poor and how long can Leicester sustain their belief they are good enough not only to climb to this end of the table but stay there. The answer on last night’s evidence is a good bit longer yet.
Leicester started with real zip and confidence. Vardy, whose face adorned packets of Walkers salted crisps on sale at the ground, fizzed around the slightly creaky looking centre back pairing of Terry and Zouma and Danny Drinkwater giving Thibaut Courtois an early feel of the ball after two minutes with a long range sighter.
Leicester’s pace up front gave Chelsea palpitations and Terry was lucky to escape a booking after stopping Mahrez with his hanging leg when the Algerian threatened down the right side.
The opening goal was a cracker and owed much to the speed of thought from the home side, Vardy starting the move when spinning the ball out to Leonardo Ulloa who in turn fed Mahrez.
His pinpoint cross was met perfectly on the volley at the near post by the England international who ghosted in between the flat footed positions of Terry and Zouma and gave Courtois no chance of a save.
The goal brought a fleeting response from Chelsea who saw Nemanja Matic head narrowly over from a corner within two minutes of Vardy’s strike. But it was Leicester who grew in confidence.
The loss of Eden Hazard who limped off with what appeared to be a knock to his hip after a clash with Vardy just after the half hour did not help matters for the visitors and Chelsea lacked a cutting edge with Diego Costa receiving scraps up front.
The Foxes who finished the half stronger with Marc Albrighton testing Courtois with another long range effort. It took Leicester just three second half minutes to double their lead.
Albrighton’s first attempt to cross from the left was blocked by Zouma’s chest, but the Leicester winger gathered the rebound and fired a ball over to the back post where Mahrez killed it stone dead with his first touch before leaving Cezar Azpilicueta in a daze, twisting one way and another, then lofting a gentle pitch into the far corner.
It was enough to convince the Leicester fans of the answer to the question. “We are top of the league,” they shouted, a chant which morphed quickly into “We’re going to win the league”.
Leicester City (4-4-2): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Inler 82), Drinkwater (King 16), Kante, Albrighton; Vardy (Okazaki 88), Ulloa. Booked: Huth, Vardy. Goals: Vardy 34, Mahrez 48. NEXT UP: Everton (a), Sat PL.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic; Willian, Oscar (Remy 65), Hazard (Pedro 31); Costa. Goal: Remy 77. NEXT UP: Sunderland (h), Sat PL.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (County Durham).
=================
Star:
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1: Vardy and Mahrez strike to fire Foxes top
LEICESTER powered back to the top of the Premier League as Jamie Vardy got back on the goal trail.
By Dave Armitage
Goals from Vardy and Riyad Mahrez put Jose Mourinho’s stumbling champions to the sword.
And victory gave Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri the satisfaction of putting one over the man who took his job at Chelsea 11 years ago.
Mourinho cruelly revealed it was because they considered Ranieri a loser.
But he might have to re-think that as Leicester proudly look down on the rest while Chelsea astonishingly linger just above the relegation spots.
And it was that man Vardy who set them on their way with an early goal, followed by another Mahrez special.
Leicester managed to survive a late grandstand finish from the ailing champs which saw sub Loic Remy give them a chance of getting something with a 77th minute bullet header.
But it wasn’t enough and Leicester’s astonishing league title assault shows no sign of letting up.
Vardy scored his 15th goal of the season to show just why he’s the Premier League’s deadliest hit man.
His eleven match record-breaking scoring streak ended last week at Swansea when Mahrez snatched the spotlight away with a hat-trick. So when Leicester took the lead in the 34th minute no one should have been too surprised at the two who cooked up trouble.
Mahrez clipped the ball over and Vardy left Kurt Zouma standing with a turbo-blast of pace to meet the ball six yards out with a clinical right foot volley which gave keeper Thibaut Courtois no chance.
Mahrez forced Courtois to save just over minute into the game when he finished a run from the halfway line with a low shot.
Both sides suffered first half casualties with Leicester forced to replace Danny Drinkwater with Andy King in the 16th minute and Chelsea suffering the blow of having to replace Eden Hazard with Pedro on the half hour.
Leicester extended their lead shortly after half time and this time it was Mahrez who did the damage after tormenting Cesar Azpilicueta. The Algerian star twisted the full back one way, then another, before spotting his opportunity and curling a left foot shot into the far corner of the net.
The scoreline just emphasised how far the Foxes have come since Mourinho’s men won here 3-1 in April.
Leicester have lost just once since then, recording 13 victories and six draws.
Mourinho knew desperate measures were called for if they were to claw their way back and in the 54th minute he sacrificed skipper John Terry to bring on Cesc Fabregas.
Pedro squandered a great chance late on then Kasper Schmeichel made a brilliant stop with his legs to keep out Costa as Chelsea threw the kitchen sink at the Foxes.
Remy gave them hope and had the home fans biting their nails when he headed home from an Oscar cross.
But Leicester hung on gamely to continue what is becoming the stand out story of the season.
Leicester (4-4-2): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Inler 81), Drinkwater (King 16), Kante, Albrighton; Ulloa, Vardy (Okazaki 87). Subs: Schwarzer, Dyer, Wasilewski, Benalouane.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (Fabregas 54), Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Oscar (Remy 65), Hazard (Pedro 30); Costa. Subs: Begovic, Mikel, Kenedy, Cahill.
