English Premier League: The day of the underdog

By Paul Gittings, CNN

(CNN)Relegation survivors last season, few would have tipped Leicester City to be topping the English Premier League in December.

Surely nobody would have predicted that the Foxes would be 17 points clear of reigning champion Chelsea after just 15 games.

But a superb 3-0 win for the Foxes Saturday at Swansea City, combined with a 1-0 win for promoted Bournemouth at Chelsea in the late kick off, a stunning upset, has left the table with an air of unreality.

Squawka Football ✔ @Squawka

Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth FT:

Shots: 18-15

Possession: 57%-43%

Chances created: 15-7

Pass accuracy: 85%-74% 

3:31 AM - 6 Dec 2015

Algerian international Riyad Mahrez grabbed a hat-trick in Leicester's victory, substitute Glenn Murray's late header left Chelsea in 14th place with pressure re-applied on manager Jose Mourinho.

For once, Mahrez's teammate Jamie Vardy was not on target, his run of consecutive scoring in the EPL ending at 11 games. It is a record for the EPL but he failed to match the all-time 83-year-old record of Jimmy Dunne for the top-flight of English football.

Football Stats @FootbaIlStats

Chelsea have now lost as many Premier League games this season (8) as Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool combined. 

3:26 AM - 6 Dec 2015

With 15 points from 15 games, Chelsea is only three points clear of the drop zone in an incredible reversal of its dominant form of last season.

While talk of the winning title may be fanciful, Leicester is taking advantage of inconsistent form by previous leader Manchester City, which was beaten 2-0 by Stoke in the early game Saturday.

Xherdan Shaqiri set up Marko Arnautovic for two early goals for Stoke, which dominated against a lackluster City team, despite welcoming back David Silva to its starting lineup.

Source: