Riyad Mahrez responds to Jamie Vardy’s ‘angry’ Leicester message
Leicester City legends Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez both sent messages after their return to the Championship was sealed.
Vardy and his Foxes team-mates were unable to find the net for a ninth straight Premier League home game at the King Power Stadium, their unwanted top-flight record extended in a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 76th-minute strike both rubber-stamped Leicester’s fate and leaves Arne Slot’s side on the brink of the title, and sparked questions over whether the defender will stay at Liverpool.
As a result, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side limp back down to the Championship with five games to play, and his future in the dugout at the King Power Stadium is under serious threat before the end of the season.
Jamie Vardy addresses Leicester fans as relegation confirmed
Leicester‘s demotion to the second tier – after they bounced back at the first attempt last season – has loomed for some time; the Foxes have won just one of their last 19 matches and have lost 16 of those.
Former Foxes winger Harvey Barnes sent amessage of the home fans at the King Power Stadium after Newcastle waltzed to an easy 3-0 win earlier this month – Leicester’s eighth straight goalless home loss.
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points |
| 17 | West Ham | 33 | 9 | 9 | 15 | –18 | 36 |
| 18 | Ipswich Town | 33 | 4 | 9 | 20 | –36 | 21 |
| 19 | Leicester City (R) | 33 | 4 | 6 | 23 | –46 | 18 |
| 20 | Southampton (R) | 33 | 2 | 5 | 26 | –54 | 11 |
After the dust had settled on Leicester’s relegation, arguably their greatest ever player took to social media, as Vardy posted on Instagram (21 April) with a lengthy message in apology to the Foxes faithful.
Several legends of Leicester’s title-winning season reacted to Vardy’s post, with 2016 PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez saying; “head up”, to his former team-mate.
Vardy’s old strike partner Shinji Okazaki left a similar message for the 38-year-old, and said: “Heads up, and you should stay and cotninue to play.”
Leicester fate to worsen as PSR trouble on the horizon
Leicester’s relegation back to the second-tier has been in the post for some time, but that could only be the start of their problems, with fans keen to see Van Nistelrooy sacked after months of dismal results.
However, greater problems could be further down the track, and after they avoided a PSR breach due to a soon-to-be-closed Premier League loophole last season, their return to the EFL could spell danger.
Manchester City’s former financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Leicester may be met with a points deduction upon their return to the Championship, and whether Vardy is still in the side or not, the Foxes are in line for a difficult campaign.