Leicester City's Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (L) celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Chelsea during their Premier League match in Leicester, England, January 19, 2021. /CFP
Leicester moved top of the Premier League by inflicting another damaging 2-0 defeat on Chelsea on Tuesday, to leave manager Frank Lampard fighting to remain in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have now won just two of their last eight league games to fall to eighth, nine points behind the leaders.
Chelsea were expected to challenge for the title after a £220 million ($300 million) spending spree in the transfer market.
Frank Lampard, manager of Chelsea, gives instructions to players during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Leicester City in Leicester, England, January 19, 2021. /CFP
But it is Leicester who are threatening to recreate their heroics of the 2015/16 season when they shocked the football world to win the Premier League as first-half goals from Wilfried Ndidi and James Maddison earned a thoroughly deserved win.
"It sounds nice 'top of the Premier League'," said Maddison. "It's a good one psychologically because we've worked really hard. It's a great achievement halfway through the season."
"We were beaten by the better team," said Lampard.
"I thought they were sharper than us, ran more than us, showed moments of quality. They looked like a team in form and we looked like a team out of form."
Leverkusen's French winger Moussa Diaby (C) shoots against Borussia Dortmund during their Bundesliga match in Leverkusen, Germany, January 19, 2021. /CFP
In the Bundesliga, Moussa Diaby starred with a goal and assist as Bayer Leverkusen went second on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.
French winger Diaby's early opener was cancelled out by a 67th-minute equalizer from Julian Brandt against his former club.
Dortmund were left to rue a host of missed chances when Diaby then set up a superb goal by Leverkusen's 17-year-old midfielder Florian Wirtz for the winner ten minutes from time.
The victory was Leverkusen's first in five league games and put them second on goal difference, level on 32 points with RB Leipzig.
(With input from AFP)