Title-winners tipped to stave off relegation

Foxes urged to keep pulling in same direction as champions bid to avoid the drop

We need to force our luck rather than wait for it. We’ve waited too long for it now, so we need to push ourselves. DANNY DRINKWATER

Danny Drinkwater is confident the same core of players who inspired Leicester’s Premier League title triumph last season can turn around the Foxes’ miserable form and save them from relegation this term.

Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Swansea condemned Leicester to a fifth consecutive league loss and left Claudio Ranieri’s side just one point and one place above the drop zone, and still without a topflight goal in 2017.

Last season’s fairytale is now a fast fading memory and many of the players who starred in their title-winning success have come under fire for their underwhelming performances this campaign.

However, Drinkwater believes those same players will make things right as Leicester seek to avoid becoming the first defending champions to be relegated since Manchester City in 1938.

“It’s another defeat that we’re not happy with, so we’ve just got to keep pulling in the same direction and hope it’ll turn,” the England international told LCFC TV.

“We’re giving ourselves a harder challenge by going two goals down. We went in at half-time and we knew we could make something happen. We didn’t, but if there’s a group of players that can turn things around, it’s us.

“We need to force our luck rather than wait for it. We’ve waited too long for it now, so we need to push ourselves and make sure we do all we can to get the three points next time around.

“There’s no way that it’s over and we all know that in there (the dressing room). Come the end of the season, we’ll turn it around I’m sure.”

One shining light this season for Leicester – who managed to keep most of their title-winning squad intact last summer, with N’Golo Kante’s departure to Chelsea the most notable loss – has been their Champions League exploits.

They finished top of Group G in their maiden campaign after winning four of their six games and they next face Sevilla in the last 16.

The first leg of that tie takes place on February 22 in Spain, but first Leicester’s attention will turn to Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round trip to Millwall.

With Leicester still fighting on three fronts – albeit for different reasons – Drinkwater is hoping his side can finally start rewarding the Foxes’ fans for their support.

He said: “This is when we rely on ourselves and the fans. They’re doing their part to keep us on our toes and keep us going on the pitch.

“We need to do our part as a group of lads to make sure everyone is doing their part to improve.

“We’re in every day making sure we’re doing what we can do.”

Picture: Getty Images. Danny Drinkwater is confident Leicester can still turn around their season.

Leicester have toiled after N’Golo Kante’s move to Chelsea.