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Sublime goals from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez sent Leicester City back to the Premier League summit after a deserved 2-1 win over lacklustre Chelsea whose march to the title last season seems a distant memory.
The prolific Vardy, whose record run of 11 consecutive Premier League goals came to an end at Swansea City last weekend, beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a crisp volley from playmaker Mahrez's delightful cross after 34 minutes.
Algerian Mahrez curled in a stunning second goal from the edge of the area three minutes into the second half to put Leicester, continuing their remarkable turnaround after escaping relegation last season, on 35 points, two clear of Arsenal.
Substitute Loic Remy gave the visitors hope with a headed goal 13 minutes from time to set up a tense finish but the hosts held out to leave Chelsea mired in 16th place on 15 points from 16 games - one point above the relegation zone.
So who deserves credit for Leicester's latest win? And who was to blame for the defeat from Chelsea's point of view? Here, we take a look at the individual performances...
Show all 26 1 /26Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Schmeichel - 7 out of 10 Was never tested in the first half, but did superbly to start the move - via a long ball up field - that led to Vardy scoring. Then denied Costa when the Chelsea striker was through on goal in the second half.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Simpson - 6 out of 10 Dealt with Costa well in one instance and did well to clear a good Chelsea chance in the second half. However, he failed to stop Pedro from getting the cross in that Remy scored from.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Morgan - 7 out of 10 Used his strength and pace to really shackle and stop Costa from having an impact before working well with Huth to keep a lid on the visitors as they looked to get back in the game.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Huth - 7 out of 10 Like Morgan, enjoyed a great game - barring the one moment when he failed to track the run of Remy for his goal.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Fuchs - 6 out of 10 Made a brilliant tackle to deny Ivanovic at the far post with the full-back threatening to score in the second half.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Mahrez - 9 out of 10 Scored Leicester's second goal with a superb powerful effort after setting up Vardy for the first. Won the battle with Azpilicueta in the match while also tracking back and defending against Hazard and Pedro.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Drinkwater - 5 out of 1 Was only on the pitch for 16 minutes before coming off injured, but did create an early goalscoring chance when he set up Vardy after winning possession in midfield. But he over-hit his pass and Courtois was on hand to deal with it.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Kante - 7 out of 10 The midfielder's sensational season goes on after he was involved in the build-up to Vardy's goal while keeping the likes of Willian and Oscar at bay.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Albrighton - 6 out of 10 Didn't have the biggest of impacts down the left wing, but tested Courtois with one well-taken shot in the first half.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Ulloa - 7 out of 10 Combined with his team-mates to play a part in Vardy's goal and was a nuisance for Chelsea's defence to deal with.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Vardy - 8 out of 10 Remained ready for action despite being shackled well initially and fired in the opener in fine fashion. Got a yellow for a reckless challenge on Costa after having taken Hazard out of the game, but showed why he is one of the most dangerous forwards in the top flight at the moment.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Substitute: Andy King - 6 out of 10 Replaced Drinkwater just 15 minutes into the game and did well to protect Leicester's back four particularly with Chelsea going on the offensive in the second period.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Courtois - 6 out of 10 Was forced into making several last-ditch saves in the first half although he suffered one nervy moment after miscommunication with Zouma with Vardy advancing. Perhaps could have done more to keep out Vardy's opener but was certainly powerless to deny Mahrez.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Ivanovic - 6 out of 10 Used the space he was given on the right flank to send in crosses and help Chelsea in attack, although Albrighton nearly made him pay for losing possession in the first half with a shot at goal. Should really have scored in the second half during a corner but failed to make enough contact at the far post.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Zouma - 4 out of 10 Will be disappointed to have allowed Vardy to run past him for the goal after having used his pace to initially shackle the Leicester striker well.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Terry - 5 out of 10 Failed to keep an eye on Vardy, which gave the striker the space he needed to fire in the opener. Was hauled off for Fabregas in the second half as Mourinho made a tactical change.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Azpilicueta - 3 out of 10 On what was his 100th Premier League appearance, the left-back endured a day to forget. He Was caught out of position for the opener and should have done more to pressurise Mahrez before the winger sent in the cross from which Vardy scored and then failed to close in on Mahrez for the second.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Ramires - 5 out of 10 Did not dominate the midfield areas of the pitch as well as he did against Porto, and allowed the likes of Drinkwater, King and Kante to run riot.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Matic - 5 out of 10 Should have equalised seconds after Vardy scored the opener but headed the ball high. Defensively, the Serbian allowed Leicester's forwards too much space and could not adequately protect the back four.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Willian - 6 out of 10 Provided Fuchs with some trouble down the left flank as he worked hard in offence and defence but could not prove the difference as he so often has this season.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Oscar - 4 out of 10 It was the Brazilian's header to no one in midfield that gave away possession in the build-up to the opening goal while he also disappointed going forwards. Was replaced with Remy as Chelsea looked for a goal to get back into the game.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Hazard - 6 out of 10 Enjoyed a really bright opening period of the game down the left flank - getting into good pockets of space and testing Simpson and Mahrez - but saw his game cut short with half an hour gone following a challenge by Vardy.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Diego Costa - 5 out of 10 ltimately disappointed following a positive performance against Porto. The striker looked frustrated, perhaps rightly so with some of the tackles he was at the end of, but didn't do enough to get into good goal-scoring positions. Saw his one effort at goal thwarted by Schmeichel.
Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Substitute: Fabregas - 6 out of 10 Did well to spark the visitors back into life after being dropped from the starting line-up for two consecutive games, linking up well to set up a Costa shot.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Substitute: Remy - 7 out of 10 Provided much more of an attacking threat after being brought on in the second half and went on to score Chelsea's consolation goal.
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Leicester 2 Chelsea 1 player ratings Substitute: Pedro - 7 out of 10 Did not initially provide the same kind of threat Hazard had before he came on to replace the injured Belgian, but he grew into the contest as it progressed and then sent in the cross that led to Remy scoring.
Who was your man of the match? Let us know in the comments below.
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