Leicester City have edged closer to winning the Premier League title with a resounding 4-0 victory – their biggest of the season – over Swansea City at the King Power Stadium.
With Jamie Vardy suspended, all eyes were on Riyad Mahrez to step up in the top scorer's absence and the Algerian duly delivered inside 10 minutes.
Mahrez had not scored or assisted in any of Leicester's last three matches, but put that right by whipping the ball inside the near post after intercepting a loose Ashley Williams pass out from the back.
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The Foxes continued to look comfortable and on the half-hour mark they were two up as Vardy's replacement, Leonardo Ulloa, outmuscled Williams and rose to head home Danny Drinkwater's inswinging free kick.
Swansea had chances to get back in it before half time, but Federico Fernandez headed over before Gylfi Sigurdsson's free kick was tipped wide by Kasper Schmeichel.
The Foxes' extended their advantage further on the hour mark and again it was Ulloa applying the finish touch. Jeffrey Schlupp ran clear and after his initial cross was blocked by Williams he managed to stab the ball on for Ulloa to slide in and finish at the back post.
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The third goal appeared to completely kill off Swansea and Leicester began to create chance after chance.
Lukasz Fabianski made two fine saves to deny Schlupp and Andy King, but a fourth Foxes goal did arrive with five minutes remaining when a loose ball broke Marc Albrighton's way and the substitute slammed home from close range.
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Leicester are now within five points of securing the title, and that figure could be reduced further if Tottenham Hotspur, eight points behind and now the Foxes' only viable opponents, fail to beat West Bromwich Albion tomorrow night.
Swansea drop to 15th on 40 points, nine clear of the relegation zone.
Pascal Lemesre
