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.

Jamie Vardy hat-trick leads Leicester to a 4-1 demolition of Manchester City

Jamie Vardy rounds Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to score his third, and Leicester’s fourth goal of the match. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Leicester have performed like a wan tribute act for most of the domestic season but here the champions showed the qualities of which they are really made, and it was Manchester City who looked bogus. Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick and Andy King one goal as Claudio Ranieri’s men blew away a Pep Guardiola side who lacked the mettle to go with their frilly pretensions. Aleksandar Kolarov and Nolito’s late goals did not mask that.

Snow machines and reindeers gladdened the atmosphere outside the ground before the kick-off and by the end the home fans were singing with festive cheer, while Guardiola was facing questions about the need for new resolutions.

Community Shield: Manchester United beat Leicester with Ibrahimovic header

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, left, celebrates scoring the winning goal for Manchester United against Leicester City. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has helped to put the blockbuster feel back into Manchester United and the striker who has promised to become a footballing god to the club’s fans offered an illustration of his patented sense of occasion.

The curtain-raiser to the Premier League season had been engaging enough, marked by Jesse Lingard’s marvellous solo goal and a deserved Leicester City equaliser from Jamie Vardy, but it looked to be sliding towards a rather artificial penalty shootout conclusion.

Enter Zlatan. The free-agent signing from Paris Saint-Germain had successfully executed a back-heel with his first touch in the early running – the Swede is addicted to the extravagant. But it was what he did in the 83rd minute that represented his setting down of a marker.

Can Conte get his Kante?: Ideal candidate for Antonio Conte’s midfield wants Chelsea switch

 

Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante is reportedly set to turn down a new contract offer and choose to accept a move to Chelsea this summer.

The French ace is currently on international duty at Euro 2016, and has continued to impress after playing an influential role in the Foxes’ Premier League title-winning campaign last season.

In turn, it’s no surprise that he has attracted significant attention from around Europe, although according to The Independent, he’s set to snub both Arsenal and Manchester United in favour of a switch to Stamford Bridge.