Leicester stay in Premier League with three rounds to spare

The former champions won 3-0 against Watford to secure their place in the Premier League next season.

Vardy and coach Shakespeare share joy after the match ended. Photo: Reuters.

The match in round 36 saw Leicester easily beat Watford with three goals at home at the King Power Stadium. In the first minutes, Leicester could have opened the scoring early if Watford's clearance had not hit the post after a cross from Jamie Vardy.

However, the home team finally got a goal in the first half thanks to midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who had a powerful shot in the box after the ball bounced off a Watford defender.

The second half saw further goals from Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton, Mahrez's goal the culmination of Leicester's simple play, a long flick from Schmeichel that took just two touches to find the back of the Watford net.

Albrighton's last-gasp strike sealed a stunning victory for Leicester, moving them to 43 points, 11 ahead of 18th-placed Swansea with three games remaining. The result means Shakespeare's men are back in the Premier League next season.

Leicester also climbed into the top half of the table in ninth place, while Watford dropped to 15th after a third successive defeat. Watford could still theoretically be relegated as they are eight points clear of Swansea.

Mahrez scores after a lightning attack by Leicester. Photo: Reuters.

This has been a season of ups and downs for Leicester after writing a fairy tale a year ago. Expected to be champions, Leicester have failed to show an impressive face and instead have fallen miserably. The team fell into the red zone at the end of February, the time when they were forced to sack hero Claudio Ranieri.

The Leicester board's decision has paid off as Craig Shakespeare has led the team to five consecutive Premier League victories since taking charge. In Shakespeare's last 10 Premier League games, Leicester have won seven and lost just two.

With what happened this season, the number one task of Leicester's Board of Directors and Shakespeare is to keep the pillars next summer. The team no longer has the status of a champion and lost the European Cup, so it has a significant impact on the spirit of the stars.

According to VNE