Following the 2-2 draw in the North London Derby and Leicester’s 1-0 win at Watford, the Foxes sit five points clear at the top of the English Premier League.
Far from asking the same questions everyone has been asking all season like ‘when will Leicester drop their form?’ and ‘how is this even possible?’ it is time to start asking ‘is the Premier League title race over?’
With 29 matches played we are far too into the season to consider the Foxes run as one built on luck, and too far to think any of the chasing pack will have an amazing upturn in form.
As amazing as a statement that it is, the Premier League is now Leicester’s to lose.
A five-point gap with nine games remaining is huge in terms of what it will take for Tottenham to haul back Leicester. That is on the assumption that Spurs have the ability to keep their form going.
While not to write off the Lilywhites it would take quite an effort for them to peg back the gap for any team, let alone a team which has never tasted Premier League glory.
Of course the same can be said of Leicester in that they have never been anywhere close to where they are in the table at the moment but they have the points and the morale advantage over their nearest rivals.
Arsenal are not out of the race either, despite the fact that the draw in their most heated derby match left them eight points off the top.
Have a quick look around Europe and you can see some of the top leagues can already be called. Barcelona are going to take out La Liga, Bayern Munich have the Bundesliga wrapped up while PSG only have to win two more games before they will be crowned champions of France.
So when do we call the Premier League?
Due to the nature of this season it would be hard to call at any point while it is still mathematically possible for Leicester to lose it and it may very well come down to the last day of the season.
What the Foxes have going for them though is their remaining fixtures. It is likely that West Ham will be their toughest test as the Hammers will be fighting for a European place.
They still must face both Chelsea and Manchester United but on the last and third last match days of the season respectively. They are both giants of English football who have had disappointing years and by that stage will likely be settled in the position that they are in.
Tottenham still have a two-legged Europa League tie to contend with against Borussia Dortmund and if they were to knock out the German heavyweights would have added fixture congestion. They too also have Chelsea and Man United but slightly earlier when the Blues and Red Devils may still feel they can advance their seasons.
Arsenal are still fighting on three fronts and while their fate has effectively been sealed in the Champions League they will be looking the march on in the FA Cup. A berth into the quarter finals will likely take great prominence at the Emirates as the Gunners look to go back-to-back-to-back.
Again, this season is now Leicester’s to lose.
It may be slightly too early to call the Foxes Premier League Champions right now, but it will not be too long before the talk begins.
Mark
Guest
Just replace Bayern with PSG and you'll be right
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
Correct you are my friend. I feel like I made my whole comment invalid due to my inability to count. That is definitely some novice stuff.
Mark
Guest
If it does I think Leicester are gone, or would need other results to go their way, as much as I would like to see Ranieri beat Chelsea on the final day. I think Leicester need to have it wrapped up with at least a game to spare
Mark
Guest
Bayern are only 5 points ahead, like Leicester
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
As football fans we absolutely should care. We should care about the Premier League title, we should care about all the imports into Chinese football, we should care about why PSG are taking the French League at a canter. We should also care if Adelaide can keep this run going and take out the A-League, why have Victory dropped off so severely, and how can we benefit from a competition that let's team throw in the towel so early a-la Central Coast. We should care about it because we love football.
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
Hammers will have the biggest say in the title race outside of Leicester. Putting a cheeky few bucks on West Ham to win the FA Cup may not be a bad shout though.
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
It's so exciting to think that at this point of the season it's still too early to call. What a season it has been!
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
Saw one a couple of days ago where a man cashed out, received £21,000 but still had his bet going for Leicester in the top four at 500/1. Don't know if I'd have the stones to keep the bet going.
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
Ranieri winning the title at Stamford Bridge would be perfect poetic justice. Would love to see it.
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
Would absolutely love to see the title go down to the final day again. Under Mourinho I could see Chelsea throwing in the towel and giving Leicester the win just to stop Arsenal or Tottenham. Under Hiddink not so sure.
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
IMO West Ham are the team that will have the biggest say in where the title will go outside of Leicester. Great time to be a Hammers fan
Dave Blackmore
Roar Rookie
As much as I agree with this, and I do, I just love to play Devil's Advocate. Would you consider it too early to declare the Bundesliga title? The stats are much the same with 9 matches left to play but with Bayern sitting 15 points ahead of Dortmund. Surely we can call the German Champions Bayern Munich, or is that too much of a novice approach?
Jarrod Free
Roar Rookie
Nothing like a run such as this to get the neutrals excited. Go, Foxes, go!
Steve
Guest
Yeah straya! Believe it or not some people are interested on what happens outside of our isolated island. I thought football being "the world game" was part of it's appeal - obviously not to the new dawners.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Jeez I know his not everyone's cup of tea but you're being a bit harsh on Rooney there.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
We're in Australia, should we care anyway? A-league providing enough football interest.
Red Menace
Roar Rookie
Foxes....pfffft. Hammers will go undefeated for the last 9 rounds and will have the title by round 37. Hammers will go on to do the double by winning the FA Cup. C'mon you Irons.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Leicester have to play Soton, Hammers, United and Chelsea in the last round but the rest they should win. I too have been wondering when will their form drop but they have done really well to stay up there. Its welcome news for someone other than United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Man City to win the title, go Foxes!.
SM
Guest
I would absolutely love it if Ranieri won the title at Stamford Bridge. What a way to stick it up 'em given the way they treated him there all those years ago. Though he'd be too classy to do anything of the sort.
Sleemo
Guest
"So when do we call the Premier League? Due to the nature of this season it would be hard to call at any point while it is still mathematically possible for Leicester to lose it and it may very well come down to the last day of the season." Exactly. Given the way this season has gone and the twists and turns we have seen over the past couple of months in particular, I wouldn't be calling it over until it is mathematically impossible for whoever is on top to be caught.