Leicester City are ripping up the rule book with their extraordinary Premier League title charge.
Claudio Ranieiri's side were rated as 5000-1 outsiders for the title after narrowly avoiding relegation at the end of last season, but they sit five points clear of second-placed Tottenham after snatching a 2-2 draw against West Ham on Sunday.
With just four games of the campaign remaining, Leicester are now within touching distance of the first top-flight title in their 132-history - an achievement that would rank as one of the greatest in the history of the game.
Their favoured starting XI of Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Simpson, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan, Christian Fuchs, Kante, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton, Okazaki, Mahrez and Vardy cost a meagre £20m to put together - an eighth of the overall total spent by Manchester City in the summer transfer window alone.
They rank 18th in the Premier League for possession and bottom for passing accuracy, and their direct style has flummoxed their rivals. "I love it," said Ranieri in September. "I would also like to keep possession of the ball but we don't have these characteristics in the team so I prefer to go straight away."Ranieri uses two strikers together in front of a flat midfield four, with Vardy playing on the last man and looking to get in behind the opposition's defence while Okazaki drops deeper to help out defensively. It's simple but effective - and it may yet fire Leicester to the title.
Possession is key
Devotees of possession-based football have been left scratching their heads by Leicester's approach. The last three Premier League-winning sides have dominated the ball and averaged at least 55 per cent possession, but Leicester prefer to sit back, defend resolutely, and play on the counter-attack.
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