Ranieri rolls dice again as Leicester face West Brom – Wenger challenges Arsenal to rebound from United setback

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LEICESTER, United Kingdom, Feb 29, (AFP): Leicester City face the next test in their extraordinary Premier League title challenge with manager Claudio Ranieri prepared to take more risks in search of victory over West Bromwich Albion. Ranieri’s boldness was rewarded on Saturday as his substitutions paid off with a late 1-0 win against Norwich City. And the Italian is ready to take the bull by the horns again on Tuesday as Leicester look to claim a second home win in four days and extend their fairytale season.

Leicester answered another major question about their title credentials on Saturday when they demonstrated their patience and nerve to score in the 89th minute through Leonardo Ulloa after being frustrated by Norwich. Success came after Ranieri threw caution to the wind by sacrificing a defender to deploy a 3-5-2 system late on.

“I take a lot of risks,” said Ranieri, whose side go into the game two points clear of second-place Tottenham Hotspur at the summit. “One point is nothing — we had to win. If you lose, it is just one point less. “We took the risk and the manager is hired for this reason, to take a risk. I enjoy it when there is something to do from my side and Saturday was good. “When you change and the change finds the solution, it is fantastic.”

Ranieri is likely to be forced into a change to his starting line-up against West Brom after N’Golo Kante, one of the stars of Leicester’s season, suffered a hamstring injury against Norwich. Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger challenged Arsenal to respond in this week’s crucial fixtures after watching his team waste a glorious opportunity to close the gap at the top of the Premier League in Sunday’s 3-2 loss at Manchester United.

Arsenal, seeking their first league title in 12 years, were bidding to stay within two points of surprise leaders Leicester City ahead of a home fixture against Swansea on Wednesday and a crucial visit to Tottenham looming on Saturday.

But the loss at Old Trafford, against an under-strength United side that enjoyed another stunning two-goal display from teenage forward Marcus Rashford, has left serious question marks over Arsenal’s ability to capture the title.

“We have lost three points,” said Wenger. “You have to show you are up for the fight and give absolutely everything in our next game. Things can change quickly, but only if you keep going, keep believing.

“We are in a fight where we can show we have great character, great mentality and respond on Wednesday (against Swansea). That’s what we have to do.

“Let’s not go overboard. They had still a few millions on the pitch from (David) de Gea to the midfield. They spent a lot on (Memphis) Depay, he is not a player from the academy.

In related news, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said that the balm of victory would help his hobbling players prepare for Wednesday’s Premier League clash with London rivals West Ham United.

Harry Kane wore a face mask to protect a broken nose against Swansea City on Sunday and Dele Alli injured his foot in the warm-up, but both players finished the match with smiles on their faces as Spurs came from behind to win 2-1.

Coupled with Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester United, it enabled Pochettino’s men to reclaim second place and close to within two points of leaders Leicester City.

After visiting sixth-place West Ham, Spurs face a showdown with north London rivals Arsenal, but despite their walking wounded, Pochettino said: “It’s easier to prepare for the West Ham game after this victory.

“They (the players) are happy, they smile, it is always a better mood to recover.

“It is an exciting moment for us, but some players we need to manage because some players feel a little bit tired. We came from a very tough period.”

While Spurs look to establish themselves as Leicester’s main challengers, third-place Arsenal find themselves five points behind the leaders ahead of their home game with Swansea.

Arsenal could not take advantage of an injury-ravaged United team at Old Trafford, where 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford scored twice for the hosts and set up Ander Herrera for what proved to be the decisive goal, and manager Arsene Wenger conceded it had been a weighty blow.

“We dropped three important points, but we have to show we are up for the fight and bounce back on Wednesday night,” said the Frenchman.

“We have to not feel sorry for ourselves. Mathematically, what it means, we will only know at the end of the season.”

Standings

                       P   W    D    L  GF GA Pts

Leicester        27   16     8     3   49   29   56

Tottenham     27   15     9     3   49   21   54

Arsenal          27   15     6     6   43   26   51

Man City         26   14     5     7   48   28   47

Man Utd         27   12     8     7   36   26   44

West Ham      27   11   10     6   41   31   43

Southampton 27   11     7     9   35   26   40

Stoke             27   11     6   10   29   33   39

Liverpool        26   10     8     8   38   36   38

Watford          27   10     7   10   29   28   37

Chelsea         27    9     9     9   40   37   36

Everton          26    8   11     7   46   35   35

West Brom     27    9     8   10   27   34   35

Palace           27    9     5   13   29   35   32

Bournemouth 27    7     8   12   30   44   29

Swansea        27    6     9   12   25   36   27

Norwich          27    6     6   15   30   51   24

Newcastle      26    6     6   14   27   49   24

Sunderland    27    6     5   16   32   51   23

Aston Villa      27    3     7   17   21   48   16

Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against & points.

Manchester City’s title hopes looked to have been fatally undermined by consecutive losses to Leicester and Spurs, but although they lie nine points off the pace — albeit with a game in hand — confidence has been bolstered by Sunday’s League Cup triumph over Liverpool.

League Cup success proved the catalyst for a late surge to title glory in 2014 and ahead of Wednesday’s speedy reunion with Liverpool at Anfield, manager Manuel Pellegrini is hoping that lightning will strike twice.

“It’s important to continue trusting what we are doing,” said the Chilean, whose side prevailed 3-1 on penalties at Wembley after the game finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.

“We continue (being) involved in the Premier League. We have to play (for) another 36 points, so we are not going to give up.

United, now three points below the Champions League berths, having played a game more than fourth-place City, host Watford on Wednesday.

Leicester continue to make a mockery of predictions that their title challenge is bound to collapse and can reassert their five-point advantage on Tuesday when they host West Bromwich Albion.

They almost squandered a chance to put pressure on their rivals on Saturday, when it took an 89th-minute goal from substitute Leonardo Ulloa to see off Norwich City, but manager Claudio Ranieri took the manner of victory as a sign of the depth in his squad.

Champions Chelsea, meanwhile, will look to continue their recent upsurge in form when they visit relegation-threatened Norwich.

“Every time when we relax, even for a few seconds, we lose points, so we have to go step by step,” warned Branislav Ivanovic, who scored Chelsea’s late winner at Southampton on Saturday.

“We have in three days another game and we have to be very careful because it is another away game against a difficult opponent.”

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