Claudio Ranieri hopes Leicester star Riyad Mahrez can handle increased scrutiny

Claudio Ranieri’s side have lost just once in the league all season – nearest challengers Arsenal beat them 5-2 in September – and recent Premier League statistics suggest they are in the driving seat to seal what would be the first English title in their history.

“I’m feeling good and I want to play because it’s a big game”.

However, Ranieri added: “At Liverpool, there’s a very good atmosphere and we’ll have to show our very best if we want to win there”.

“I agree with people who say Arsenal are the favourites or Man City are the favourites, I agree with them”.

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has described winger Riyad Mahrez as a “king”, but warned that the Algerian will have to cope with the extra pressure on his shoulders now.

“I think if we get through this fantastic moment and we are still top, not only Leicester fans will be behind us, but a lot of English fans as well, because I think Leicester are a likeable team”.

“You have to manage this kind of pressure”.

Meanwhile, Ranieri has told Riyad Mahrez he must learn to deal with the spotlight and speculation. And for him it is important to manage very well this stress.

“It’s important he understands that what he does on the pitch is one thing and the TVs and newspapers are another thing”.

Speaking to BeIN Sport, former Australia worldwide Schwarzer said his side had out performed all the Premier League’s traditional big hitters.

If he continues to put in displays of the quality that he did against Everton, he will not have to worry about being subbed off, though. Now they must enjoy it. They must play free, without pressure. A corollary of that approach is that Leicester run a greater risk of giving the ball away – they have the worst passing accuracy in the Premier League (a meaningless and misleading stat if ever there was one) – but often cut through teams quicker, especially with Vardy’s pace and Mahrez’s flair. It’s stupid if we have pressure.