Manuel Pellegrini treating Leicester as title rivals

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is convinced Leicester have what it takes to stay the course in the title race.

Pellegrini has warned his players they must approach tonight’s trip to the King Power Stadium as they would any other top-of-the-table showdown.

The Foxes were the Premier League’s surprise leaders at Christmas and they held onto that spot on St Stephen’s Day despite slipping up at Liverpool.

That was only their second defeat of a campaign in which City — many people’s favourites for the crown — have already lost five times and Pellegrini does not believe one bad result will prompt the slump some predict.

Pellegrini, whose side moved within three points of Leicester by thrashing Sunderland 4-1 on Saturday, said: “Before that they beat Chelsea and drew against (Manchester) United. We must consider Leicester not thinking that they lost on Saturday and could collapse, but as a team that will have options to be fighting for the title until the end. With that mentality we must try to play the game.

“They are top of the table because they deserve to be. They have important players in a very good moment with high performance.”

Leicester’s remarkable rise has been fuelled by the form of attack duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. Vardy was the competition’s leading scorer with 15 goals after 18 games with Mahrez just two behind. In addition Mahrez had weighed in with seven assists and Vardy three.

Yet while they may provide a lot of the spark for Claudio Ranieri’s side, Pellegrini is aware there is much more to the team. The Chilean said: “Maybe both are in a very good form but I don’t think they could do it if the complete team was not performing well. They are important players but we must think a lot of things, not just two players.”

Vardy is expected to shrug off a virus to play, despite being ill in Saturday’s defeat at Anfield, while Mahrez was also substituted to keep him fresh.

While City got back on track against Sunderland after a disappointing loss to Arsenal, the gloss was taken off that win by the loss of captain Vincent Kompany with a calf injury.

City are again likely to be without the key defender although the full extent of the problem is not yet clear.

The other main concern is striker Sergio Aguero, who looked ineffectual on his return from a heel injury against Arsenal and did not get off the bench in the Sunderland game.

Pellegrini said: “Kun was on the bench because if we needed him he could have played in the second-half, but we have to play Leicester three days later - a difficult game - and 10 games during January.

“He had a small problem so I think it was better not to take any risk and we were winning 3-0 at half-time, so I think it was better for him to rest. He will be 100%.”

Midfielder Marc Albrighton insists Leicester can bounce back against City and warned their title rivals the Foxes will refuse to surrender easily.

“We see this as a test. There will probably be a lot of pundits and media that might think now we are going to lie down and relax with our 30-something points,” said the winger.

“We’re not a side to do that.

“To be honest, I don’t think we will play another game this season with pressure. We’ve got ourselves in a brilliant situation and we are doing fantastic. Everyone was tipping us to be down there at the start of the season, but we’re right in the mix and we deserve to be where we are.”