The Premier League’s quickest quartet will share a pitch this weekend but it’s not at Stamford Bridge.
No we’re not talking about the likes of Eden Hazard, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Hector Bellerin. The real speed demons will all be gathered in the Britannia Stadium, as second-placed Leicester visit Stoke City.
Whilst the fourth fastest player this season, Mame Diouf, lines up for the hosts, the top three will all be playing for Claudio Ranieri’s surprise packages.
Striker Jamie Vardy, at 35.44 kilometres-per-hour, has recorded the highest speed of any Premier League player this term, but the England international has two of his own team-mates hot on his heels.
With left-back Jeffrey Schlupp (35.26 kph) and left winger Marc Albrighton (35 kph) tearing up the turf, Stoke’s Jonathan Walters could have his work cut out if selected on Stoke’s right flank.
3 – The three players to have recorded the fastest speeds in the 2015/16 PL all play for Leicester (Vardy, Schlupp, Albrighton). Squadron.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 17, 2015
Speaking on Thursday, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri took a flight of fancy in describing his team’s primary asset…
Ranieri on speed and pace: "My team is like the RAF….beep, beep, beep, I love it."
— BBC Sport Leicester (@BBCRLSport) September 17, 2015
Indeed they are, Claudio. Indeed they are.
