Leicester City ensured they will be top of the Premier League at Christmas by beating Everton at Goodison Park.
Riyad Mahrez scored the first of two penalties after Ramiro Funes Mori held back Shinji Okazaki.
Romelu Lukaku levelled, but Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard tripped Jamie Vardy to allow Mahrez to again convert from the spot.
Okazaki fired in a third for the Foxes, who held on despite Kevin Mirallas’ late strike.
Leicester, predicted to be relegation candidates by many commentators before the start of the season, are now the only team in Premier League history to be bottom on Christmas Day one year and top the following Christmas.
Claudio Ranieri’s side will go into their game at Liverpool on 26 December as leaders, regardless of the result of Monday’s match between second-placed Arsenal and third-placed Manchester City.
Discussion around Leicester’s remarkable season has centred on how long they can continue to upset the odds and remain in the title picture.
Once again they provided an energetic, controlled performance that will leave the doubters waiting at least one more week for any signs of a collapse.
There was a worry for Leicester late on as Vardy clutched his hamstring while being replaced, and Ranieri will know that the fitness of his England striker is key to his side’s burgeoning title hopes.
Vardy, who has 15 league goals this season, has been a sensation, alongside team-mate Marhez, who took his tally to 13 with two well-taken penalties.
The pair were involved in all the Leicester goals, Mahrez releasing Vardy to win the penalty for Leicester’s second, and former Fleetwood forward Vardy providing the low cross which Okazaki shot left-footed into the bottom-left corner.
Follow Us