Leicester City's decline in numbers

32 - the Foxes are 32 points worse off than at this stage last season, with 21 as opposed to 53.
14 - they have lost 14 games, compared to only two last season. They also have only five wins as opposed to 15.
24 - their goal tally tells a similar tale of woe, having scored 24 this season against 47 through the same number of games last term.
0 - away wins this season. They have taken three points from 13 away games - only Burnley, with one from 11, have a worse record on the road.
0 - also the number of Premier League goals they have scored in 2017, in six games which have brought them only one point.

11 - in all, Leicester have drawn a blank in 11 games this season - it happened just three times in the whole of last season.
3.2 - Leicester's average for shots on target per match this season, the third-worst record in the division. Last season they ranked fifth with an average of 4.8.
343 - minutes the Foxes have spent in the lead in matches this season, compared to 863 at this stage last season.
5 - England striker Jamie Vardy, who scored in 11 consecutive league games last season on his way to 24 goals for the season and a Euro 2016 place, has just five this time around.
17/11 - PFA player of the year Riyad Mahrez's goal and assist tallies from last season. He has three goals and two assists this term.

Claudio Ranieri sacked as Leicester City manager nine months after winning Premier League title

Claudio Ranieri had been under increased pressure throughout Leicester City's poor run Credit: ap

Claudio Ranieri was sacked as Leicester City manager on Thursday night, nine months after guiding the club to the first top-flight trophy in their 133-year history.

Ranieri returned to East Midlands Airport from Seville in the afternoon to be given the news by Leicester’s director of football Jon Rudkin in a ruthless move which has stunned football as much as their remarkable title win.

Rafa Benitez could replace Arsene Wenger

 

 

Could this be the year when Arsène Wenger finally steps down as an Arsenal manager? Wenger’s £8m-a-year contract expires at the end of the season, and there is a strong possibility that he might walk away. A new two-year-old contract is on the table, and it is up to Wenger to decide whether he will stay put.

Newcastle United manager, Rafael Benítez, has emerged as a shock candidate to replace him. Arsenal have drawn up a shortlist of four candidates, and Benítez is among them. The Spaniard will face competition for the post with Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Tuchel, while Barcelona’s Luis Enrique, and Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim remain other options.

AFCON 2017: Cameroon beats Egypt 2-1 to lift AFCON trophy after 15 years wait

Cameroon's last-gasp win ends a 15-year wait for another continental crown

Cameroon came from behind to beat Egypt 2-1 and seal a fifth Africa Cup of Nations in a thrilling, edgy final.

Substitute Vincent Aboubakar swept in the winner two minutes from time, flicking the ball over defender Ali Gabr and thumping it home.

Nicolas Nkoulou had earlier equalised for Cameroon, rising highest to power in a header on the hour mark.

The equaliser cancelled out Mohamed Elneny's opener on 22 minutes with a beautifully taken near-post strike.

The wild celebrations for Aboubakar's winner announced Cameroon's return to the continental summit, after a wait of 15 years. 

It also makes them the second most successful nation in the competition's history - behind Egypt - and marks the first time they have beaten the Pharoahs in the final in three attempts.

Besiktas striker Aboubakar ran towards the triumphant Cameroon fans in the Stade de l'Amitie stands in Libreville to celebrate, pursued by delirious teammates and coaching staff.

Underdogs Cameroon had already upset the odds to reach the final and stunned the much-fancied Egyptians with the late dramatic strike, after fellow substitute Nkoulou had drawn them level.

Despite being beset by pre-tournament problems, including the withdrawal of key players such as Joel Matip and Eric Chuopo-Moting, coach Hugo Broos managed to assemble a squad that got their reward for being strong, adaptable and resilient in equal measure throughout.

The Pharaohs - bidding for an eighth title after seven years in the international wilderness - started comfortably and Elneny's opening strike capped a wonderful fluent move down the right. 

The Gunners midfielder started the move and finished it, after receiving the ball from Mohamed Salah in the box and sweeping it past Fabrice Ondoa into the roof of the net at the near post.

 

But Egypt invited the Indomitable Lions to come at them in the second half and they paid a heavy price.

The excellent Cameroon forward Benjamin Moukandjo whipped in an excellent, menacing cross and substitute Nkoulou muscled his way through the Egyptian defence to beat Ahmed Hegazy to the ball and bury it past 44-year-old Essam El Hadary in the Egyptian goal.

The contest developed into a fascinating cagey final, with Cameroon, inspired by the excellent Christian Bassogog and Jacques Zoua up front, pinning Egypt back and limiting them to long balls to Salah and substitute Ramadan Sobhi.

Fatigue soon set in in the Egyptian ranks and Cameroon got their ultimate reward for increasing the pressure on the experienced Egyptian defence.

Aboubakar controlled a long ball forward with his chest at the edge of the box, flicked it over the stranded Gabr, before gathering, taking a step and smashing home off his right foot for a fitting winner.

The Egyptians - featuring the tournament's oldest and most experienced player - El Hadary, were left stunned after looking comfortable for much of the first half.

As they had done for much of the tournament, Egypt relied on a well-marshalled defence, led by Ahmed Hegazy, Gabr and Hull City's Ahmed Elmohamady. They also had the formidable Elneny and Salah leading the line. 

The Pharaohs more than played their part in an entertaining final, but it was Cameroon's energy that would light up the occasion and provide a thrilling end to a thoroughly entertaining tournament for the near-capacity crowd of more than 38,000 in the Gabonese capital.

Belgian coach Broos reflected the unity in his squad's ranks, as he celebrated the first Nations Cup title of his career.

"I am happy for the players," he said. "This is not a group of football players, they are a group of friends."

Egypt coach Hector Cuper was left to dwell on another defeat in a major final, having lost two European Champions League finals with Spanish club Valencia.

"The sadness I have is not because I lost another final," he said.

"It's because there was so much hope especially among the people in Egypt and I am sorry for the players who put in so much effort."

5 most important Branislav Ivanovic goals for Chelsea

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has moved to Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg. The Serbian is set to call time on his Blues career after nine eventful and successful years with the club. There were several doubters when he arrived in January 2008. He didn’t make a single appearance for the club in the second half of the 2007-08 season, and was linked with a move away in the summer. Slowly and gradually though, things changed.

376 appearances, 34 goals and 9 trophies later, there is little doubt that Ivanovic will go down as a Chelsea legend. His form may have dipped dramatically in his final two years at Stamford Bridge, but he will forever be fondly remembered by the fans.