Riyad Mahrez scored his fourth goal of the season against Swansea, Leonardo Ulloa bagged a brace and a Marc Albrighton finish ensured Leicester City went eight points clear at the top of the table.
With Swansea largely being untroubled in the opening 10 minutes, Ashley Williams’ poor pass along the defence was intercepted by Mahrez, who calmly squared up the defender before slotting the ball past Lukasz Fabianski at his near post.
Swansea’s set-piece woes continued into another game, as they conceded from yet another free kick when Danny Drinkwater’s lofted cross found an unchallenged Ulloa, and the Argentine found the back of the net, a very soft and simple goal for Swansea to concede.
A vintage Leicester counter-attack made the third goal possible, as Jeffrey Schlupp broke away and at the second attempt found Ulloa at the back post, where he was able to poke the ball home.
Leicester’s fourth also came from a counter-attack, as Marc Albrighton stroked the ball home on the third attempt following Demerai Gray’s fantastic run.
Swansea were largely the better team in the opening 10 minutes, until Mahrez found his way in between a Williams pass to Neil Taylor, sending the Leicester fans into a frenzy.
The goal will hurt just that extra more to Williams, who’s feud with Mahrez saw the Welshman follow Mahrez onto the Leicester team bus after the reverse leg earlier in the season, where the PFA Player of the Year frontrunner scored a hat-trick as his side won 3-0.
Foxes crank up the pressure
Leicester than began to take control, as Christian Fuchs and Shinji Okazaki both came close within two minutes, as Leicester tried to extend their early lead.
The home side then did just that, as Williams lost Ulloa inside the box for the Argentine to score Leicester’s second and Swansea’s 20th goal conceded from set-pieces this season.
Swansea did have some chances in the first half, Federico Fernandez met Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free kick but his header was just over, and Sigurdsson himself saw another free kick saved from Kasper Schmeichel from 30 yards.
There was a late claim for a penalty just before half time, after Ulloa beautifully brought down a goal kick, Leroy Fer brought down the striker inside the penalty area but Mark Clattenburg deemed the Dutchman to have won the ball.
From bad to worse for Swansea
The first real action of the second half came after an hour, as Leicester scored their third goal of the afternoon. Schlupp proved his inclusion was merited by breaking away on the counter, making Fernandez look like he wasn’t even there and despite Williams and Lukasz Fabianski’s best efforts, Schlupp found a sliding Ulloa at the far post, who was able to convert.
Schlupp then continued to pile the misery on Swansea, but wasn’t able to get Leicester their fourth after Fabianski palmed his effort from 20 yards wide.
Swansea almost scored a consolation goal late on, after Andre Ayew peeled away from a Ki Sung-Yeung corner but his free header hit the side-netting.
It was then almost 4-0, as Welsh international Andy King got two chances to finish in the far corner. The first was well saved by Fabianski and the second was inches over the bar.
It then was four. Grey took the ball from his own half to the Swansea byline, making the away side look like a team of ghosts in the process. He then crossed to King, his header came back to Grey, his shot parried but only as far as Albrighton who finished with ease.
Swansea's season effectively over
It is fair to say that a 4-0 scoreline seems kind on Swansea, as Leicester were on top of their game even without Jamie Vardy, and could have scored several more times. Many will claim that Swansea were at the beach today, with one eye on their summer holidays. They were so far in the beach they may have well been in the sea.
April of last year, Leicester beat Swansea to lift themselves off the foot of the table. To think how dramatically things have changed over the course of just a year is a mark of Leicester success and they should be commended for it.
Swansea brought on Alberto Paloschi and Jefferson Montero at half time, ensuring that the cycle of the diamond formation continues.
Francesco Guidolin will start with the diamond, then see his side concede from a set-piece, then the diamond formation will be abandoned for a more traditional system. Swansea will then show more promise in the second half, and repeat.