Claudio Ranieri, Riyad Mahrez grounded despite return to English summit

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri and winger Riyad Mahrez have moved to temper expectations after a 2-1 defeat of reigning champion Chelsea leapfrogged the club back to the top of the Premier League table.

Related: 3 takeaways from Leicester's top-spot return at struggling Chelsea's expense

The east Midlands outfit was widely predicted to be powerless in avoiding relegation into the second tier this term, and survival remains the aim if you believe the cautionary words from its gaffer and irrepressible Algerian.

The five points would give Leicester 40 points, the amount the Italian believes is required to avoid the bottom three this season. Mahrez, scorer of a beautiful curling effort for the Foxes' second, was apparently not joking when he predicted his side could need a greater points tally to ensure its Premier League status.

"We are not definitely safe, we need 40 or 42 points for that," he told Sky Sports, as quoted by BBC Sport.

It has been a fairytale campaign so far at the King Power Stadium, one that has captured the imagination of football fans across the world, and even has its own players surprised.

Leicester returns to defend its position atop English football at Everton on Saturday.