“Leicester City ready for kick off” (CC BY 2.0) by Ronnie Macdonald
Leicester City were the darlings of the Premier League last season. The plucky underdogs rose from near relegation in the 2014-15 season to win the top-flight crown for the first time in their history, stunning the usual contenders with their brilliance.
However, the Foxes have been unable to rekindle their magic under Claudio Ranieri this term, despite their impressive performances in the Champions League. Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and company have struggled to find their best form and are staring a relegation battle in the face.
Leicester are tumbling towards the bottom three in the Premier League due to their underwhelming displays and could achieve history by becoming only the second side to be relegated after winning the title in the previous campaign. Manchester City were the last English side to drop down in the 1937-38 season just 12 months removed from winning their first crown.
The odds are still in the Foxes’ favour to remain in the top flight due to the quality in their squad, but have a read of some bookmaker and casino reviews by experts before you bet to ensure there are no intriguing options to back the club to take the drop into the Championship.
Ranieri’s men’s latest defeat to Burnley highlighted their troubles as the Clarets dominated their contest before Sam Vokes scored a controversial late winner at Turf Moor. The Foxes were resilient under the Italian last season, but cracked under ferocious late pressure from the home side to succumb to their third defeat on the spin in the Premier League.
The loss to Sean Dyche’s side was a microcosm of their fortunes this term. Whereas last season Vardy would have converted both of the half-chances that came his way inside the box, this season he fired wide and was unable to beat Tom Heaton with his second effort.
The England man has only five Premier League goals to his name this season, whereas he was well on his way to his 24 total strikes in the top flight this time last January.
“Premier League Champions Leicester City” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by boloveselvis
At the other end of the pitch it seemed that every bounce of the ball landed the way of Ranieri’s men and the majority of the decisions went in their favour. However, on this occasion referee Mike Dean did not spot a blatant handball from Vokes before he poked the ball past Kasper Schmeichel.
As a result of the loss, Leicester are only two points clear of the bottom three and face crucial matches against Swansea City and Hull in the coming weeks. They need the pillars of their run to the title to find the peak of their powers, as not only Vardy and Mahrez have struggled.
“Leicester City v Southampton, United Kin” (CC BY 2.0) by La Increíble Historia de Leicester City
Robert Huth and Wes Morgan have been under immense pressure at the back and were given all they could handle by Andre Gray and Vokes at Turf Moor. Leicester have already conceded more goals this term than they did in the entirety of the last campaign.
The departure of N’Golo Kante has played a significant role in their decline, while none of the three players signed to replace him have been able to step up to the mark.
Ranieri needs to get his men firing again otherwise they could be creating history again, but this time for the wrong reasons.