Riyad Mahrez urges Leicester City to stay "focused" as title edges closer

Riyad Mahrez has reminded his Leicester City teammates to stay "focused" on the job at hand after they stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points.

Mahrez, who has been influential in the Foxes' title bid all season, scored the only goal against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this afternoon.

Claudio Ranieri's side have a substantial lead in the title race, but it could be cut back down to five points if second-placed Tottenham Hotspur beat Bournemouth on Sunday.

"The game was very difficult, it was a very good win," BBC Sport quotes Mahrez as saying. "We are eight points clear, but Tottenham are still to play tomorrow. Jamie Vardy gave me a very good ball [for the goal]. Early in the game I missed one, and after I scored this one I'm very happy to help the team.

"We are very solid and compact, we will have chances in the game, and we have to keep going like this. It's getting close, but still seven matches to go. It's a long way, we need to keep focussed on our team and we will see what we can do."

Leicester have only lost three of their 31 league games this season.