adminLONDON. — When Leicester City lost at home to Chelsea in late April it briefly stalled their dash for English Premier League soccer survival and left their opponents one victory away from claiming the title. Chelsea went on to claim the crown and Leicester, with a stunning sequence of results, stayed up. But not even Leicester’s most optimistic followers could have envisaged then that, a few months later with Claudio Ranieri now at the helm, they would be hosting Tottenham Hotspur with a chance to top the table with a maximum nine points.
Likewise, Chelsea’s fans could hardly have expected their club to be mired in an early-season trough that, with a certain sequence of results this weekend, could leave Jose Mourinho’s side bottom of the table.
That is the unlikely scenario in store, however.
Wins against Sunderland and West Ham United mean Leicester have collected 28 points from the last 33 available — the best tally of any side in the top flight.
With confidence surging, goals flowing and a stuttering Tottenham visiting tomorrow, Leicester have every reason to expect their form to continue for another week at least.
Algerian Riyad Mahrez leads the league scoring charts with three goals while the likes of James Vardy and midfielder Marc Albrighton have excelled.
This week’s signing of Switzerland captain Gokhan Inler from Italian club Napoli has added to the feel-good factor sweeping the east Midlands.
Not that Ranieri is letting the players get ahead of themselves.
“I put the ice on their heads to keep them cool so we maintain a low profile,” the Italian said.
“That is important for us.”
Champions Chelsea are still looking for their first victory, having conceded five goals in their opening two games — including a chastening 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last week when skipper John Terry was substituted at half-time.
It is their worst start for 17 years and they will hope to get back on track on Sunday at West Bromwich Albion who themselves only have one point.
After the distraction of Mourinho’s public dressing down for club doctor Eva Carneiro and speculation about talismanic Terry’s “demise”, Chelsea could do with a big statement of intent at the Hawthorns where they lost 3-0 in May having already secured the title.
Manchester United and City will both be seeking to maintain their 100 percent starts to the season, with United, who host Newcastle United tomorrow, buoyant after taking a huge step towards the Champions League group phase with a 3-1, first leg victory over Club Bruges at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
City, ahead of Leicester on goal difference at the top, face a trip to Everton.
After two 1-0 defeats, newcomers Bournemouth visit West Ham looking for their first ever top flight points. Only Sunderland, who host Swansea City, are also without a point after two games.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s James Milner says the club have enough options in midfield to implement the high-energy pressing style favoured by manager Brendan Rodgers.
The England international and Liverpool vice-captain, who joined the Merseyside club on a free transfer from Manchester City during the close season, lined up alongside club captain Jordan Henderson in central midfield for the second time this season in the 1-0 home win against Bournemouth on Monday night.
“There’s a lot of options for us and a lot of different styles of players, and a lot of energy,” Milner told the club website (www.liverpoolfc.com).
“That’s how we want to play, we want to move the ball but we want to put teams under pressure as well when they have it,” the 29-year-old added.
An injury to Henderson forced Rodgers to bring on Emre Can early in the second half against the Cherries, but Liverpool held on to the three points and secured their second consecutive win of the season.
Milner said Rodgers had enough midfield options at his disposal to control how the game played out.
“It depends how the manager wants to play — two or three, or one of us sitting or moving out. There’s plenty of energy in there.
“Emre came on as well, Adam (Lallana) played in there and Philippe (Coutinho) played in there (at Stoke City),” he said.
The team travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on Monday night and Milner admits that preserving their perfect record will not be easy for Liverpool. “It will be a tough game. They (Arsenal) look sharp,” he said.
“They had a disappointing result in their first game (against West Ham United) but they are a quality team and will want to bounce back from that and try to get their run going.
“We have defended well in the first two games of the season and we’re going to need to do that there.
But if we can keep improving and keep clean sheets, we have quality going forward,” the midfielder added. — Reuters.
Online Reporter