Leicester City should be alright in top four race, says Efan Ekoku
Leicester City should be alright in the race for a place in the UEFA Champions League, says Sky Sports pundit Efan Ekoku.
Leicester slumped to their second consecutive defeat in the Premier League, losing 1-0 to Norwich City, who had not kept a clean sheet since their 2-0 win over Everton in November.
It was Leicester’s sixth defeat in their last 12 league games – they’ve only won three during this run – and also, their third straight game without scoring a goal.
Whatever way you wish to look at it, it remains safe to admit that this is relegation form from the East Midlanders. Luckily, those behind them are even worse, which means that the Foxes are still in a very good position to accomplish their target for the season.
Ekoku therefore believes that Brendan Rodgers’ side can perhaps afford such a blip.
"“I would be concerned if I was a Leicester fan,” Ekoku told Sky Sports.“We were standing right beside the Leicester fans for the last five minutes and there was quite a few who were agitated.“The fortunate thing for them is that the teams behind them keep tripping up.“Manchester United are on a decent run at the moment, unbeaten in a few matches, but Spurs and Chelsea are showing signs of fragility, which they have done throughout the season.“I just think that eight-game winning streak that Leicester had before Christmas could be that crucial spell where they opened up that gap.“I don’t think the sides behind them have got the confidence that they can bridge that gap.“Leicester, who are not in great form themselves, can probably afford even one or two more slips and still be ahead of that chasing pack.”"
It can all change very quickly in this league, so Leicester cannot rely on their rivals’ incompetency to finish in the top four.
The more points they keep dropping, the more confidence it will give to the likes of Manchester United, Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur. If they do sense a chance, it would not take them a lot of time to step up their game.
As Ekoku has implied, Leicester have still not lost anything yet and are well clear of any danger. But no point-difference in football is big enough for a team in free fall – and Leicester are in free fall.
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A win is needed and it is needed as soon as possible. Leicester cannot keep bleeding for too long.