The numbers behind the Leicester decline that cost Ranieri his job

Michael Graham

Decline: Claudio Ranieri has paid the price

Leicester’s perilously poor title defence has cost Claudio Ranieri his job, but just how bad are the numbers behind the Foxes’ decline?

32 – the Foxes are 32 points worse off than at this stage last season, with 21 as opposed to 53.

14 – they have lost 14 games, compared to only two last season. They also have only five wins as opposed to 15.

24 – their goal tally tells a similar tale of woe, having scored 24 this season against 47 through the same number of games last term.

0 – away wins this season. They have taken three points from 13 away games – only Burnley, with one from 11, have a worse record on the road.

0 – also the number of Premier League goals they have scored in 2017, in six games which have brought them only one point.

11 – in all, Leicester have drawn a blank in 11 games this season – it happened just three times in the whole of last season.

3.2 – Leicester’s average for shots on target per match this season, the third-worst record in the division. Last season they ranked fifth with an average of 4.8.

343 – minutes the Foxes have spent in the lead in matches this season, compared to 863 at this stage last season.

5 – England striker Jamie Vardy, who scored in 11 consecutive league games last season on his way to 24 goals for the season and a Euro 2016 place, has just five this time around.

17/11 – PFA player of the year Riyad Mahrez’s goal and assist tallies from last season. He has three goals and two assists this term.

1 – Danny Drinkwater too has tailed off dramatically, setting up just one goal this season as opposed to seven last.

5/3 – summer signing Islam Slimani leads the team with three assists and sets the pace alongside Vardy with five goals.

86 – N’Golo Kante, the one significant departure from last season’s squad, has made 86 tackles this season in 24 appearances for Chelsea – ranking him third in the Premier League. Daniel Amartey, Wilfred Ndidi and Nampalys Mendy – signed for upwards of £33m altogether and tasked with filling the void he left in Leicester’s midfield – have totalled just 50 in 27 combined appearances.