Pundits wrong to dismiss Foxes as one-title wonders

Without Liverpool, Leicester City would be among the favourites for Premier League glory just three years after pundits said it would ‘never happen again’. The Foxes’ title win in the 2015-2016 season was possibly one of the greatest achievements in top-flight football, certainly since the advent of the Premier League in 1992-93.
The increased revenue to the clubs – especially those with the greatest TV exposure – means there has been a ‘big six’ emerge in recent years, with Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham generally holding sway.
Blackburn Rovers muscled in on the action when they had a benefactor but the status quo soon returned to Ewood Park and they now find themselves in the Championship.
Claudio Ranieri somehow managed to win the domestic game’s greatest prize with a group of players happy to soak up pressure and hit teams on the counter-attack.
In Jamie Vardy, they had a striker at the top of his game and playing in a system that suited his style down to the ground.
It is no coincidence that, under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, the former England hitman is back among the goals and looking as sharp as ever, with the East Midlanders riding high in the standings.
It is open to debate just how much influence Ranieri had on the title-winning side as he was gone just nine month after lifting the Premier League trophy. However, there is no doubt the incumbent has had a big effect on proceedings.
For a manager to leave the relative comfort of almost guaranteed success at Celtic, as they approached another title, shows just what Rodgers saw at King Power Stadium. His decision to move south has been vindicated.
Whether Leicester can go on and win a second title only time will tell but, with Jurgen Klopp’s side looking almost unbeatable, it may be that a top-four berth is the limit of their ambitions this season.
Pep Guardiola’s City will doubtless rally and may well even challenge the Anfield outfit for the title – even from a position of being nine points back after 12 games.
Leicester are unlikely to win the Premier League in 2019-20 although the fact they are even being mentioned in the same breath as the big two proves just how far they have come in a short space of time.
Lightning might not strike twice in the same place although it could hit the ground very close.