Monday 26 December 2016 19:17, UK
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has told Riyad Mahrez he must improve after dropping the reigning PFA Player of the Year before the Foxes lost to Everton.
The Algerian winger was axed for the first time since October 2015 as the champions slipped to a 2-0 home defeat on Boxing Day.
Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku scored to earn the Toffees victory at the King Power Stadium, leaving the champions just three points above the Premier League relegation zone.
Their title defence is in tatters and the Foxes face a battle against the drop with Ranieri's side having lost half their 18 games - and winning just four times - this season.
Mahrez, who scored 17 goals to help Leicester win a shock title last term, came on in the second half, but could not spark a revival and Ranieri has demanded more before he can return to the side.
"He's not in good form now and I wanted to stimulate him," he said.
"I didn't see him do well during the training sessions and he must give more for the team. I want more.
"Demarai [Gray, Mahrez's replacement] was good. His performance was good. I changed him to give more balance when I put Mahrez inside and to maintain the 4-4-2 with [Marc] Albrighton, who can help the two midfielders."
Wwhile the Italian claimed not to be too concerned just yet at his side's plight, despite the Foxes having now slumped to 16th in the table, he did demand a response at home to West Ham United on Saturday.
"Worried? No, but I knew from the first month we were in a battle when we were up and down this year, and now we have to react very soon," he said.
"We now have another match at home against West Ham, who won 4-1 away today, and it is very important to get some points from that game."
What most disappointed Ranieri was that his team appeared in control of the match, only for it to be turned on its head when Everton took the lead with their first effort on target.
"We wanted to give a good present to our fans and do something better, we were in control of the match, but with their first shot of the match they scored," he said.
"We reacted a little late from the long kick from the 'keeper, and after their goal they had very good quality, control of the match and possession, and for us it was very, very difficult to get back in the game.
"It is very thin lines as from their first chance, they scored and then after that they controlled the match and we were a little nervous, we tried to make a goal, but it was difficult today."
One positive from the defeat, though, was 20-year-old defender Ben Chilwell's assured Premier League debut for the club, something his manager acknowledged after the game.
"Ben Chilwell made a fantastic performance and his debut was very, very good," Ranieri said.
