Ranieri: No pressure on Leicester

Claudio Ranieri’s side sit top of the table on 35 points after 16 games, their challenge spearheaded by league top scorer Jamie Vardy and winger Riyad Mahrez, the pair purchased for a combined fee of 1.4 million pounds.

Leicester’s rise to the summit of the English top flight has been one of the most remarkable football stories of recent times and they have become the neutrals’ favourite in the title race.

Shinji Okazaki added the icing to the cake with this strike in the second half, with the 29-year-old securing all three points for the visitors on another memorable afternoon in what is turning out to be a sensational season for the club.

“I am very pleased”.

Everton have been very good in front of goal, with their tally of 29 only bettered by Manchester City and Leicester.

Today was a hard, difficult match.

“Yesterday was another great result and another great performance and to go to Goodison and win against a good Everton team who are in good form themselves just proves this is no flash in the pan now, they’ve got to be taken seriously”. With the players they have, the fans and the stadium you have to dig deep but we did that.

In an interview with French site BFM TV, Mahrez was asked whether or not he believed Leicester would go on to be champions this year, with him responding: “No, we will not be!”

Everton host Leicester at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday priced as bet365’s 11/10 favourites to score a victory.

A double for Riyad Mahrez from the penalty spot, ensuring that with the Algerian on 13 goals and Jamie Vardy on 15 Leicester now have the league’s two top marksmen, set up the latest win in a success story which is enchanting all neutrals.

“I could instill the impression that I’m someone who can be counted on”, said Okazaki, who started his first game in three and played the full 90 minutes in nearly four months. Everton will probably dominate the midfield and with players like Ross Barkley, they will create many chances for their strikers. We should have been more cool about defending that.

‘I am very, very honest. They help each other.

Manager Roberto Martinez was in no mood to hide his feelings afterwards. If we make something special it is a miracle. With Everton spending a huge amount of time on the ball, they will need to be wary of getting hit on the counter attack.