Claudio Ranieri has warned his Leicester City players that their remarkable Premier League title challenge will be forgotten unless they claim the trophy.
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Yet it now leads England’s top flight by seven points from second-placed Tottenham Hotspur and heads into this weekend’s match at home to West Ham needing just three wins from its final five league games to complete a stunning title win.
Leicester City fans celebrate at full time after their English Premier League soccer match against Southampton at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, Britain.
The New Zealand global missed the defeat by Manchester United in the FA Cup because of tight muscles but he is fit for the visit of the Foxes and he could be joined by Sam Byram who was cup tied on Wednesday.
“We’re guaranteed a top-four place and that’s massive”, the midfielder explained.
West Ham United have won twice as numerous meetings (10) between these two sides in the Premier League than Leicester (five), with two draws. We are safe. Remember, in the first match Ranieri was first to be sacked and Leicester were first to be relegated.
West Ham are still without striker Diafra Sakho, although the presence of Andy Carroll (pictured above) makes up for his absence.
“Any other year, we would be saying they are the best team in the league, but Leicester look like beating them to the title”, Lawrenson told BBC Sport.
Newcastle are now six points adrift of safety, but four of their last six games are at St James’ Park and Benitez is desperate to boost morale among the disgruntled Newcastle support with a performance against Swansea that shows his players are battling to beat the drop. “We are totally motivated for the next six games and it starts against Leicester. We have to do everything we can”.
“Fantastic. This is our soul, we play every match with this”.
Their success was recognised this week when three Foxes players – N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy – were included on the shortlist for the PFA player of the season award.
“They are like three sons for me”.
‘When you watch a game on television there are players that are always on screen. If you’d have asked me for a prediction on Monday I’d have said I’m not sure, but now I can’t see anything but a Leicester win.
Ranieri said: “One day maybe, when I’ve gone or I am waving goodbye to this earth, but not now”.
“They’ll have Champions League football, so it’s going to be more games”.
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“They also have good crossing, people in midfield who can take the ball from you like Kante or Drinkwater, but they can also travel with the ball, pass the ball and shoot”.
