Everton 2-3 Leicester City: Foxes top at Christmas thanks to Mahrez double
Riyad Mahrez scored two penalties as Leicester City won 3-2 at Everton on Saturday to ensure they will be top of the Premier League at Christmas.
The in-form winger scored a spot-kick in each half, either side of Romelu Lukaku netting in his seventh consecutive league game for the hosts.
Shinji Okazaki appeared to have wrapped up the points, before a late strike from substitute Kevin Mirallas set up a dramatic finish as Claudio Ranieri's men held on.
Leicester's eighth victory from 10 games means they are guaranteed to be top of the league at Christmas and the omens look good for a shock title bid as five of the last six teams to have held that status went on to be crowned champions.
The visitors now sit five points clear of Arsenal - who face Manchester City on Monday - at the top of the table, although they will hope Jamie Vardy has not suffered a serious injury after he came off holding his hamstring in the closing stages.
Everton, meanwhile, lost for the first time in seven league games.
Ranieri made three changes to his team, with Andy King, Okazaki and Marcin Wasilewski coming in, while Everton were unchanged.
It was Okazaki who had the only attempt of the early stages when he prodded Marc Albrighton's cross narrowly wide.
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