They did so with Ayoze Perez’s late double capping a 4-1 home win over lowly West Ham United on Wednesday.

Victory came at a cost though, as Premier League leading scorer Jamie Vardy hobbled off shortly before half-time.

Back-to-back defeats by Southampton and Burnley had cast some doubt over Leicester’s top-four credentials but goals by Harvey Barnes and Ricardo Pereira had Brendan Rodgers’ side in control by half time.

Skipper Mark Noble gave West Ham a lifeline in the 50th minute when he converted a penalty kick, but Perez’s late double, his first from the penalty kick spot, underlined Leicester’s superiority.

Leicester have 48 points from 24 games, eight ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea, while West Ham, who have 23 points, are only outside the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference.

Leicester have also scored 52 goals, their highest top-flight tally after 24 games since 1930/1931.

“I thought we played with that authority in the game and personality that the team has played with all season. Tempo was good, pressed well,” Rodgers said.

Defeat by Leicester on Dec. 28 did bad for former West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, paving the way for the return of David Moyes for a second stint as Hammers manager.

But he now faces a tough task of keeping them out of the relegation zone after winning only one of his first four games in charge.

“I knew January was going to be really, really tough. The Premier League at different times has brought shocks, we just have to make sure we bring one of those shocks in the games coming up,” he said.

Leicester toyed with West Ham in the opening stages and the only surprise was it took them 24 minutes to score, Barnes applying the finishing touch to Ricardo’s pass across goal.

When Vardy clutched the back of his leg and soon afterwards hobbled off, it dampened the mood but the home fans were buoyant when Barnes teed up Ricardo to double the lead.

West Ham had been non-existent as an attacking threat in the first half.

But they were handed an unlikely lifeline when Wilfred Ndidi was adjudged to have fouled Sebastien Haller and Noble converted from the penalty kick spot.

From a position of comfort Leicester suddenly looked edgy and Manuel Lanzini almost equalised.

But Leicester settled back into their rhythm and could breathe easy when Perez tucked away a penalty kick in the 81st minute after Angelo Ogbonna’s clumsy tackle on Vardy’s replacement Kelechi Iheanacho.

Perez made absolutely sure of the points in the 88th minute when he found the corner after an intricate passing move.

While there is no chance of another title charge, as in 2015/2016, barring an unlikely collapse in form Leicester look poised to return to the UEFA Champions League.

They are 14 points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United.

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The 56-year-old former Everton and Manchester United manager was confirmed as the new manager on Sunday, one day after the sacking of Manuel Pellegrini, signing an 18-month contract.

It is the second time Moyes has been manager at West Ham, having spent seven months in charge in 2017/2018, helping the club to English Premier League (EPL) survival.

“I certainly feel as if I have unfinished business,” Moyes told a press conference on Monday.

“I really enjoyed my time here last time and I felt, by the end, we had gone in a really positive direction with the players.

“Overall, I’m smiling because it was great to come in through the doors and see everybody. It made it so much easier.”

Moyes’ contract was not renewed at the end of the 2017/2018 season.

But he said he hoped to be so successful in his 18 months now that the owners would not make the same mistake twice.

“There is a clause to extend it and I’m going to make it impossible that the clause can’t be implemented,” he said. “That’s my plan and I want to carry it out.”

With West Ham just one point and one place above the relegation zone, Moyes’ appointment earned a mixed reception but Moyes said his record speaks for itself.

“I believe I have great experience in the Premier League and my win-percentage and number of wins stack up well against most managers,” he said.

“I am coming here to West Ham initially to get us wins and get away from the bottom of the table. I want a strong, attacking, entertaining team and I hope to bring all those things to the table.”

Moyes will use the January transfer window if required but will give the current squad the chance to impress.

“There is money there to spend if we need to, but I’m more interested in the players we have got and moulding them into the best possible team and get results,” he said.

“We have to look to pick up points and move away from the position we are in.”

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Tottenham made a number of changes to their side as they prepared for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax Amsterdam on Tuesday.

But Mauricio Pochettino’s gamble backfired against a resolute West Ham side.

Spurs dominated the first half and could have been ahead after 11 minutes when Son Heung-min was played through by Dele Alli but his shot from the left was too close to the near post of Lukasz Fabianski.

The Pole also did well to deny Christian Eriksen who shot from close range after good work down the right from Lucas Moura.

Tottenham were made to pay for those missed chances as West Ham took the lead after halftime.

A lofted cross from Marko Arnautovic in the 67th minute found Antonio who lashed it in past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Spurs brought on Fernando Llorente and Vincent Janssen in the hope of getting an equaliser but could not find a way past.

They remain third but will be under pressure from their top-four rivals, while West Ham stay in 11th position.

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