Leicester City blow away Aston Villa to ensure title race is alive and kicking

The Fox hunt is on. Brendan Rodgers is continuing to dismiss it, but Leicester are ensuring that, thankfully, there is still a Premier League title race.

Leicester’s momentum appears unstoppable and this eighth successive top-flight victory – beating a 56-year-old club record – means they cannot be underestimated as credible challengers to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

The gap between Leicester and the leaders remains eight points, which is undeniably a substantial amount, but Rodgers has a team that are the most entertaining in the country and, just like four seasons ago when they won the league, are refusing to go away.

This was another relentless, formidable performance, and in Jamie Vardy they have a forward who cannot stop scoring. This was the eighth game in a row in which he had scored and his own record from 2015, when he netted in 11 successive matches, is in his crosshairs.

Leicester’s victory extended their lead over Manchester City to stay in second place and, perhaps, Klopp’s hopes of lifting that elusive title may not be the cakewalk everybody is predicting.

The clubs meet at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day and it ­already looks a crucial game in the season. Not that Rodgers is having any of it just yet. “Wherever we are in the table, we always look to chase the team in front of us, we look for us to keep pushing, keep fighting and keep developing,” he said. “We know we’re constantly looking to improve and close the gap.

“Nobody expected us to be near the top of the table but we will just concentrate on playing as well as we can and with a performance level as high as we can.

“It’s a historical day for the club [to break the record] and the performance warranted that. It really does mean something special, it puts the team in the history books.

“We can only worry about ourselves. I spoke to a couple of Villa players at the end and they said we were the best team they’ve played so far. That’s a nice compliment.”

Leicester were top of the league at this stage under Claudio Ranieri in the 2015-16 season, but this team have three more points.

In Vardy they have one of the most underrated forwards in Europe, but everywhere you look there are key performers. Jonny ­Evans and Caglar Soyuncu are an excellent pairing in defence, Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell are outstanding full-backs while Wilfred Ndidi is the unsung soldier in a spoiling midfield role.

And then there is the masterful Youri Tielemans, the guile of James Maddison and Rodgers has so many options in attack, with Kelechi Iheanacho impressing here in only his first league start of the season.

Aston Villa are now only outside the relegation zone on goal difference after their heaviest defeat of the season. They were beaten by a Liverpool winner in added time last month, but this was a lopsided ­affair. Indeed, Leicester could have won by more on chances created.

Leicester had nearly fallen behind in the 11th minute when Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi inexplicably struck the crossbar from close range after Matt Targett’s low cross eluded the visitors’ defence.

Villa were made to pay when Vardy extended his remarkable run nine minutes later. Iheanacho’s fine pass released his strike partner and though he rounded Tom Heaton, he sliced his shot before capitalising on Ezri Konsa’s slip to make sure, poking the ball into the empty net.

Tyrone Mings added to Villa’s problems shortly afterwards, limping off with what appeared to be the hamstring injury that had clearly restricted him from running back for Vardy’s goal.

Leicester were exposing huge gaps in the Villa midfield, breaking with speed and looking dangerous every time they ventured forward. The second goal came four minutes before half-time and was another irresistible move. Tielemans ­released Maddison down the left and his brilliant cross into the penalty area was converted by Iheanacho, who got in front of Konsa.

Yet Villa did respond in added time, with Jack Grealish sweeping a shot across goal into the far corner. It was only the 10th league goal conceded by Leicester this season.

That goal had provided Villa with hope, but that was blown away within four minutes of the restart.  Leicester’s third was brutal in its simplicity, and the result of further poor Villa defending, as Evans rose unmarked to head Maddison’s corner past Heaton.

Harvey Barnes, a substitute, and Tielemans wasted glorious chances but Vardy added the fourth, running on to Dennis Praet’s pass and drilling the ball under Heaton.

The only headache for Rodgers will be how he manages to play this all down. For his opposite number, Dean Smith, it was a chastening ­afternoon. “You can’t expect to win football matches at Villa Park when you concede 23 opportunities,” said the Villa head coach.

“Individually, our defending has to be a little bit better. It’s not the first or last time someone’s going to get beaten by Leicester in that way.”

3:54PM

Full time, Aston Villa 1-4 Leicester

Barnes nearly adds a fifth for Leicester right at the end but Heaton makes the save.

The whistle blows and it's a fully deserved win for the Foxes, who were the better side for the vast majority of the game.

3:50PM

90 mins

Grealish is booked for an off-the-ball clash.

3:48PM

87 mins

News filters through that Newcastle have gone 2-1 ahead against Southampton, which may stop Villa from slipping down into the drop zone.

For now, that is.

3:43PM

82 mins

Grealish, Wesley and Trezeguet combine up front to forge a chance for El Ghazi, but he drags wide.

3:40PM

79 mins

Ben Chilwell is brought off for James Justin, the former Luton full-back.

Meanwhile, in the home dugout, Targett takes his seat among the subs after coming off for Frederic Guilbert.

3:39PM

77 mins

Heaton makes a point-blank save with his face after Soyuncu gets a free header in the box.

Leicester are in complete control at this point. If results elsewhere stay the same, Villa will end the afternoon in the relegation zone.

3:36PM

76 mins

Praet comes off with a smile on his face, making way for Marc Albrighton.

3:36PM

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-4 Leicester

A dinked ball from Praet finds Vardy in behind the defence once again.

He bears down on goal before slotting past the onrushing Heaton. Another trademark Leicester goal.

3:34PM

73 mins

Pereira gets away from Douglas Luiz on the right before drilling a cross to Barnes, who smashes over the crossbar.

Villa want a penalty soon afterwards as Pereira dives in on Trezeguet, but he (mainly) got the ball.

3:29PM

68 mins

Another chance for Leicester as Chilwell dinks a neat ball to Tielemans at the far post, only for the former Monaco man to batter a shot skywards.

3:28PM

67 mins

What a miss!

Vardy sprints onto a long ball up from the back before cutting across the box and teeing up Maddison. With the goal gaping, his teammate slashes wide.

3:25PM

65 mins

Maddison and Vardy exchange passes on the edge of the box, before the former sends a shot sailing over the bar.

3:25PM

64 mins

El Ghazi gets a shot away which is deflected behind by Soyuncu.

The corner comes to nothing after a foul from Wesley. Villa need to make a breakthrough if they are going to get anything from this game.

3:23PM

62 mins

Engels needs medical attention after being bundled over by Iheanacho.

Rodgers takes the opportunity to make his first substitution, Iheanacho coming off for Harvey Barnes.

3:20PM

58 mins

McGinn is booked for another robust tackle, this time on Maddison.

That's the seventh yellow card of the game and Villa's fifth caution.

3:19PM

57 mins

Pereira gives away a free kick and Villa bombard the Leicester box with several crosses in the aftermath, to little effect.

Villa make another substitution, Nakamba coming off for Trezeguet.

3:12PM

50 mins

Targett is booked for an ugly lunge on Pereira.

That was dangerous. On another day, he might have seen red.

3:10PM

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-3 Leicester

Well, that was something a bit different.

From a corner, Evans loses Elmohamady and gets a free header which he thunders into the back of the net. That is only his second goal for Leicester, so file under "collector's item".

3:07PM

46 mins

Iheanacho has the first chance of the second half, galloping forward before dragging a shot wide.

Villa roar back up the other end and El Ghazi forces Kasper Schmeichel into a save with a deceptive cross-come-shot.

2:51PM

Half time, Aston Villa 1-2 Leicester

While Leicester have been the better side on balance and had a couple of really dominant spells, Villa have hauled themselves back into the game right on the stroke of half time.

Things are finely poised at Villa Park, though the hosts will have to tighten up in defence if they are to have any chance of a comeback.

2:49PM

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-2 Leicester

Up the other end, Pereira is almost immediately booked for barging over Grealish just outside the area.

McGinn curls in an awkward delivery, which is headed behind by Ndidi. The corner comes in, Leicester fail to clear at the second time of asking and Grealish bobbles a deflected shot into the far corner.

2:46PM

44 mins

Pereira gets in behind and Heaton has to be alert, rushing out and making himself big.

2:43PM

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Leicester

Leicester work the ball up the flank at speed, Youri Tielemans exchanging passes with Maddison before he gets in a wicked cross.

Iheanacho nips in at the near post and bundles in. Leicester have been absolutely ruthless here.

2:41PM

37 mins

Villa get a grip on possession and work a patient move in and around the box, only for Elmohamady to squander their efforts with a square ball which is easily intercepted.

Leicester bomb straight up the other end and Maddison almost threads through Vardy one-on-one, only for Engels to cut out the pass. Iheanacho is then booked for a thumping tackle.

2:37PM

34 mins

Matt Targett goes down after an accidental collision with John McGinn in the box.

Villa could really do without another injury. Meanwhile, Marvelous Nakamba is booked for a studs-up challenge on Ndidi.

2:35PM

Vardy on fire

2:34PM

31 mins

Dennis Praet sends Vardy away up the right flank and suddenly Leicester have a two-on-one.

Vardy crosses to Iheanacho but the pass is a little short and Villa scramble the ball clear.

2:29PM

26 mins

Leicester are on top now, Maddison dinking a dangerous ball towards Vardy in the box which is only just cleared.

Villa come back at them, Elmohamady whipping in a dangerous ball which is headed away by Soyuncu.

2:25PM

22 mins

Mings, who struggled to track back for the goal, is brought off for Engels after all.

After Villa nearly score from a corner, Leicester have another great chance through Vardy but, having nipped in behind the defence, he scuffs the finish.

2:23PM

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Leicester

It's a goal which epitomises Leicester's lightning-quick football under Rodgers.

Iheanacho picks up the ball in the midfield and threads through Vardy. He goes round Heaton, miscontrols the ball as Ezri Konsa attempts to make a goal-line clearance and then scores at the second attempt, much to his relief.

2:20PM

17 mins

Mings pulls up with what looks like a thigh problem.

Bjorn Engels warms up on the sidelines, but for the moment Mings looks set to continue.

2:18PM

14 mins

Kelechi Iheanacho winds his way past Mings, who is in a bind thanks to his early booking.

Iheanacho gets a shot away, but it's blocked. It's been an end-to-end start at Villa Park and there's not much in it.

2:14PM

12 mins

Tyrone Mings gets the first booking of the game after losing the ball on the edge of his own area and dragging down the onrushing Pereira.

Maddison whips in a wicked delivery which Heaton just about punches clear.

2:12PM

11 mins

Villa hit the bar!

Grealish is the orchestrator once more, working an opening in the Leicester box which ends with Anwar El Ghazi smashing the crossbar from close range.

2:11PM

10 mins

So close!

From a free kick, Maddison floats in a dangerous cross which eventually falls to Jonny Evans. Somehow, from a couple of yards out, he pokes a shot straight at Heaton.

2:10PM

7 mins

Ahmed Elmohamady dances away from Wilfred Ndidi and finds Grealish with a cross-field ball.

Grealish carves out a dangerous opening but, again, Leicester manage to disrupt the final ball.

2:07PM

5 mins

Jack Grealish turns on his heel and finds Wesley in the box, but the Brazilian is tackled before he can get a cross in.

In the meantime, the heavens have opened above Villa Park and soaked everyone in freezing rain.

2:04PM

3 mins

First big chance for Leicester!

James Maddison charges into the box and gets a dangerous shot away, only to see it blocked. Vardy is there on the follow-up, but Tom Heaton makes the save.

2:03PM

Applause for Saunders

Former Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders died age 87 on Saturday afternoon.

He led Villa to the First Division title in 1981 and helped to build the iconic side which would go on to win the European Cup a year later.

1:09PM

A nice day for it

1:03PM

Aston Villa team news

1:01PM

Leicester team news

Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi, Praet, Tielemans, Maddison; Iheanacho, Vardy

12:52PM

Leicester in the title race?

While many backed Leicester to impress this season, few could have foreseen them building up this kind of momentum.

The Foxes have won their last seven games in a row in the Premier League by an aggregate scoreline of 21-2. Their last defeat came to league-leaders Liverpool in early October, with a late penalty from James Milner the only difference between the two sides.

He may still have a Marmite personality, but Brendan Rodgers has done an excellent job since taking over from Claude Puel in February. Leicester play a far sharper, snappier brand of football than they did under Puel, though they also have the best defensive record in the division having conceded just nine goals in 15 games thus far.

Jamie Vardy has been one of the main beneficiaries of Leicester's attacking renaissance and is currently the Premier League's top scorer with 14 goals. At the back, Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu have formed a formidable central partnership while Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell (who faces a late fitness test) have also been hugely impressive.

If Leicester beat Aston Villa this afternoon, they will end the day six points ahead of Manchester City in third and eight points behind Liverpool at the top of the table. Liverpool may feel they have a date with destiny this season, but Leicester have worked miracles before and it would take a brave man to totally dismiss them from the title race.

Even if overturning Liverpool's lead is too big an ask for the Foxes – and it would require something spectacular – another win today would put them in a very strong position for Champions League qualification.

Villa, meanwhile, are only outside of the drop zone on goal difference. With relegation rivals Norwich and Southampton also in action this afternoon, Dean Smith will be desperate not to slide into the bottom three.