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Leicester City poised to claim the EPL title as top clubs remain inconsistent

By Edgar Acero

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: Riyad Mahrez (2nd R) of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates Shinji Okazaki (1st R), Danny Simpson (2nd L) and Jamie Vardy (1st L) during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on February 6, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: Riyad Mahrez (2nd R) of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates Shinji Okazaki (1st R), Danny Simpson (2nd L) and Jamie Vardy (1st L) during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on February 6, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City keep their miraculous title run alive as Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City fail

What used to be wishful thinking has become a real possibility for Leicester City. Naysayers and traditionalists will look at history and say Claudio Ranieri’s men are bound to fail, but week after week they keep showing they’re the most consistent side in England.

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Despite being held to a 2-2 draw at home against West Brom on Tuesday, the Premier League leaders remained lonely at the top after a shocking midweek set of results. Arsenal fell at home to Swansea for their third-straight defeat in all competitions, while Tottenham was narrowly outdone by West Ham United away from home. Meanwhile, Manchester City suffered a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool.

Leicester look composed heading into Saturday’s match against Watford as they have lost just one of their last 10 games. In-form attackers Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy, who were unable to score against West Brom, will be smelling blood in the water as Vardy looks for his 20th goal of the season.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 01: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City reacts during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion at The King Power Stadium on March 1, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 01: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City reacts during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion at The King Power Stadium on March 1, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Still, while Mahrez and Vardy have been crucial to Leicester’s surprising title run, they make up just one portion of Ranieri’s miraculous season at the helm of the club. The Foxes have been healthy for most of the season and have benefitted from having a regular lineup under a traditional 4-4-2 formation every week. The defensive trio made up of centerbacks Robert Huth and Wes Morgan with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been especially impressive as they’ve recorded nine clean sheets this season.

To make the outlook more promising, the club only has to look forward to the last 10 games of the EPL season, unlike their famous rivals, who are still involved in international competitions at different levels.

Despite all the positives, Ranieri remains cautions as he manages expectations for the team and the eagerness of his players.

“I think Tottenham and Arsenal are favorites,” Ranieri said to Sky Sports during a press conference. “They have the players who can do everything. They can start and win every match . It’s important to be concentrated.”

Those “favorites” and Manchester City, however, are currently in a rut.

Arsenal’s inconsistencies have been exposed at the worst possible time. Winless in four games, the Gunners are now six points behind Leicester and in third place. Arsene Wenger is, once again, under fire after the team’s latest performances, which included a 2-0 home defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League, a 3-2 loss to a young Manchester United side last weekend and a shocking 2-1 loss at home to Swansea. To make matters worse, star attacker Alexis Sanchez has been dropping hints about leaving the club.

Manchester City’s story this season is different in nature, but with a similar outcome in terms of stability. Pep Guardiola is set to take the reins of the club next season, which makes for an uncomfortable setting at Etihad Stadium. The side looked uninspired against Liverpool and Manuel Pellegrini will be distracted focusing in advancing in to the next round of the Champions League, where it leads Dynamo Kiev 3-1 going into the second leg of the Round of 16.

Next: 5 Tottenham lessons from the West Ham loss

Meanwhile, Tottenham, who have not won a Premier League title since 1961, represent the biggest threat to Ranieri’s men. Spurs failed to catch up them at the top after falling 1-0 against West Ham, which made way to a must-watch North London derby against Arsenal this weekend. A win for Spurs not only would keep some real pressure on Leicester, it will also potentially put Arsenal out-of-the-way in the title race. Still, whatever the result at White Hart Lane, it will be Leicester City’s title to lose.

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