Two first-half goals from Riyad Mahrez have put Leicester City in control at 2-0 up at Swansea City and top of the Premier League as it stands at the Liberty Stadium.

After Manchester City slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Stoke City in the lunchtime kickoff, Leicester knew that victory would send them clear at the top of the Premier League table, and they got off to the perfect start in South Wales.

Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Leicester City at Liberty Stadium on December 5, 2015 © Getty Images

Jamie Vardy's tenacity won a corner for the visitors in the opening minutes and when Marc Albrighton whipped it in towards the front post, Bafetimbi Gomis missed his defensive header and Riyad Mahrez bundled past Lukasz Fabianski to break the deadlock.

The hosts began to find something of a foothold in the match after going behind, but their deficit was almost doubled when Vardy robbed Ashley Williams and ran in on goal only to see Fabianski's strong hand turn his low effort away.

Leicester City's Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez celebrates after he scored his second goal during the English Premier League football match between Swansea City and Leicester City at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea, south Wales on December 5, 2015 © Getty Images

Claudio Ranieri's side were in the ascendancy, and they extended their lead midway through the first half when N'Golo Kante's lofted pass found Mahrez unmarked on the right flank, and the winger cut inside to slot home.

Leicester were cutting through the Swans defence and it could have been three when Fabianski denied Mahrez a hat-trick, before Leonardo Ulloa shot wide when he perhaps should have played in Vardy as the visitors remained on top at the whistle.