Mahrez is rolling back the years
NEWCASTLE were celebrating their 125th anniversary, but it felt more like 2015-16 all over again.
Leicester will not be repeating their stunning title triumph of course, and are not likely to qualify for the Champions League.
But they are playing with swagger again, counter-attacking with the pace and precision of two years ago. And Riyad Mahrez has rediscovered the pomp which made him the Premier League’s most talked-about player.
As for Newcastle, comparisons with that fateful campaign are becoming all too apparent. The Magpies could be relegated again.
Rafa Benitez, below, may be infinitely more popular than Steve McClaren was but his squad is inferior to the one that went down.
It is hard to think of a current Toon player who would get a game for Leicester. A handful look out of place in the top flight.
Benitez knows it and could not have made his concerns clearer.
“At the start of September you could see it could be a difficult season,” he said. “I’ve said that all along, unfortunately.”
In other words – over to you, Mike Ashley.
Takeover or no takeover, if the owner does not provide his manager with significant funds next month, it will be a Championship club he is trying to flog.
Twelve months ago there was talk of Leicester becoming the first reigning champions since Manchester City eight decades earlier to go down, but under the softly-spoken Claude Puel they have rediscovered their mojo. Leicester
NEWCASTLE
deserved their win even if it came from an own goal by Ayoze Perez.
With Demarai Gray and Mahrez scoring and pulling the strings behind a spring-heeled Jamie Vardy, the Foxes too often had Newcastle looking exposed.
Leicester have now won three in a row and do not just look a decent side again, they know they are.
“That’s the thing” said full-back Ben Chilwell. “We’re going out there feeling confident of getting good results.
“We’re showing team spirit again and feel we can go to any stadium and pick up points.
“When our forwards are firing on all cylinders we’re always going to score goals. It’s starting to click for us and that’s a huge positive.”
Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino refused to believe Newcastle would be embroiled in a survival fight in 2018.
“I believe in each one of our team,” he said. “The fans can see a united team, a family playing football. Our squad is perfect for the Premier League.
“But football is about momentum. You will have good periods and bad. Now we are in a difficult period but I’m sure the moment we win a match, a lot more will follow.”
NEWCASTLE (4-4-2):