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| Mahrez scored twice as Leicester maintain top spot in the Premier League by beating Everton |
THEY were rock bottom last Christmas. They are top of the tree this year.
Leicester City have been the story of the season. Now they have guaranteed the Christmas No 1 spot, the smash hit few saw coming.
Leicester's deadly double act destroyed Everton. Even though Jamie Vardy did not score - for only the second time in the Premier League since August - he still played a part in all three goals.
Riyad Mahrez got two of them. Many a right winger would be pleased to score 13 league goals in a season. The outstanding Algerian has managed that before January.
Leicester are now five points clear. They have defied every expectation and footballing logic. Most title tilts are built on clean sheets. Theirs is based on action-packed attacking.
They conceded twice and, after Kevin Mirallas' 89th-minute effort, they might have let in an injury-time equaliser. Claudio Ranieri's men held on to cap an astonishing turnaround.
Leicester had 10 points at this stage last season. They have 38 now. Their fans chorused: "We are staying up." They are, too. At this rate and they will be in the Champions League, not the Championship.
They have in-form, inspired players. "They have the best goalscoring threat in the league and they are the best team on the counter attack," said Everton boss Roberto Martinez.
And Mahrez is the coolest of penalty-takers. His team-mates hassled and harried Everton into giving him two spot kicks.
"We needed to do better," said Martinez. Instead, Ramiro Funes Mori dallied and Shinji Okazaki darted past him, the Argentinian wrestling the Japanese to the ground.
Tim Howard guessed right that time but could not save it. Mahrez sent him the wrong way in the second half, completing a terrible minute for the American. He brought down Vardy after the striker accelerated on to Mahrez's pass. "The referee needed to be very experienced," complained Martinez. "I don't think Vardy has control of the ball."
But Vardy then set up his speedy sidekick Okazaki for Leicester's third, after referee Jonathan Moss ignored a handball by Marc Albrighton.
"It is not a time to blame the unfortunate action of the referee," said Martinez.
Ranieri's decision-making was altogether sounder. He was rewarded for bringing in Okazaki. "He got a penalty and a goal," smiled the Italian. "It was a very good performance." One of many. Mahrez has six goals in three games but both sides have players on extraordinary scoring runs. Romelu Lukaku struck his ninth goal in eight games.
After Ross Barkley was denied by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and a goal-line clearance from Andy King, Lukaku steered the rebound in. It was a slice of history for the big Belgian, the first Evertonian to score in eight consecutive games since Dave Hickson in 1954.
He is making history. But so are Leicester. No previous Premier League team had propped up the table one Christmas and topped it the next. But then there has never been a title challenge as unexpected and exhilarating as this.
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