“What is Leicester City doing at the top of the Premier League standings?” you ask. “Enjoying every moment of it” is the answer.
We picked Leicester City as relegation favorites at the start of the season. All Claudio Ranieri’s team has done since then is make a mockery of our, and everyone else’s, predictions. Jamie Vardy is scoring freely for the rampaging Foxes, and they deserve the acclaim and attention they currently are receiving.
At this stage last season, @LCFC were bottom of the table. Now, they lead the #BPL table: https://t.co/20fEOjj1zT pic.twitter.com/VBzdCdDqTj
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 22, 2015
Their stay at the top won’t last very long. It can’t last more than a week. Can it?
We wouldn’t be talking about Leicester’s seat on the perch had Manchester City taken care of business against Liverpool.
But the Reds, revived under Jurgen Klopp’s management, hammered Manchester City 4-1 on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho were instrumental. The former set up Liverpool’s first and second goals before scoring the third — all within 32 minutes of the start of the game.
Coutinho’s importance to Liverpool is well documented. Firmino’s is growing before our eyes.
4 – Liverpool have won all 4 games that Roberto Firmino has started under Klopp after winning none of the 4 started under Rodgers. Zest
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 22, 2015
Liverpool’s explosion was the second time this season Manchester City’s defense has imploded.
https://twitter.com/STATS_Football/status/668145134064812032
When Manuel Pellegrini’s side is playing well, it looks unstoppable. But without Vincent Kompany and David Silva, Manchester City is vulnerable, and other teams bite at the chance to snatch points from the weakened Premier League power.
Manchester City’s loss to Liverpool caused it fall from first place to third place in a matter of hours. Leicester City and Manchester United sit higher in the standings, as the Premier League continues to serve up weekly surprises.
Saturday, Nov. 21
Watford 1 – 2 Manchester United
Troy Deeney scored for Watford in the first half. Then he scored against his own team in the 90th minute to hand Manchester United the win.
1 – Troy Deeney became the first player to score a goal and an own goal in the same PL game since Damien Delaney in May 2014. Unfortunate.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 21, 2015
Southampton 0 – 1 Stoke City
Chelsea 1 – 0 Norwich City
Diego Costa’s goal gave Chelsea a much-needed win, but we don’t know if the victory over the Canaries represents a false dawn for Jose Mourinho’s Blues.
Newcastle 0 – 3 Leicester City
Jamie Vardy tied a Premier League record by scoring in his 10th consecutive game. He leads the league in goals with 13, and so does his team.
10 OUT OF 10 Congratulations to @vardy7 on equalling a #BPL record. Will he break it against Man Utd next Saturday? pic.twitter.com/pKL1qmOIpH
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 22, 2015
0 – Leicester City are the Premier League's top scorers but none of their 28 goals have been netted from outside the box. Intrepid.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 23, 2015
Swansea City 2 – 2 Bournemouth
Everton 4 – 0 Aston Villa
Romelu Lukaku is young, gifted and red-hot. He scored twice in the rout.
MAIN MAN @RomeluLukaku9 has scored 7 goals in his last 7 #BPL matches pic.twitter.com/1u58t0jKMO
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 22, 2015
Congratulations @RomeluLukaku9!
That's some good company you're keeping… pic.twitter.com/Uj1rRLuB17
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 21, 2015
West Brom 2 – 1 Arsenal
The Baggies’ win over the Gunners would have been the biggest shock of most rounds.
Lost in the Vardy hooplah is Mesut Ozil’s impressive assist streak. The German set up Olivier Giroud’s goal.
RECORD @MesutOzil1088 now has an assist in seven #BPL matches in a row – the best-ever sequence in League history pic.twitter.com/Bs4Ofh8FcM
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 22, 2015
MOST #BPL ASSISTS IN 2015/16:
11 – Ozil
6 – Mahrez, Silva
5 – Hoolahan, Deulofeu pic.twitter.com/aVAVOOd2v6— Premier League (@premierleague) November 22, 2015
Manchester City 1 – 4 Liverpool
Review the Reds’ big road win in our wrap and read about what it means for them going forward in our verdict.
Sunday, Nov. 22
Tottenham 4 – 1 West Ham
Spurs are on a roll, and Harry Kane is scoring freely again. Can Tottenham reached the promised land of a top-four finish and a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League?
4 – Kane has now scored in 4 successive PL apps for the 2nd time in his career & bagged six goals in his last four PL matches. Promise.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 22, 2015
https://twitter.com/STATS_Football/status/668453900945502208
Monday, Nov. 23
Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Sunderland
Jermaine Defoe’s revival lifted the Black Cats off the floor of the Premier League standings.
7 – Jermain Defoe has now hit seven goals in his nine starts for Sunderland in all competitions this season. Touch.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 23, 2015
Thumbnail photo via Jon Super/The Associated Press
