Leicester’s hopes of avoiding relegation were handed a damaging blow against Fulham as Willian inspired the hosts to a memorable 5-3 win at Craven Cottage.
Dean Smith’s side only sit above the relegation zone on goal difference and could find themselves as low as 19th by Monday night, with Everton and Nottingham Forest – two of the sides below them in the Premier League – still to play.
Leicester now face a daunting task to save themselves from a stunning drop into the Championship, with Liverpool and Newcastle next up before a game against West Ham on the final day.
Taking points in west London felt imperative for the Foxes but those hopes seemed over by half-time thanks to Willian’s free-kick, plus goals from Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney.
The visitors’ defence continued to disintegrate after the interval, with Cairney adding a second, but Harvey Barnes pulled one back before Jamie Vardy saw a penalty saved by Bernd Leno.
Willian then bent in a glorious fifth but the hosts lost their way, handing Leicester another spot-kick that James Maddison converted before a dreadful Shane Duffy header presented Barnes with the chance to sweep in his second.
It was too little too late for Leicester though, while Fulham close the gap on rivals Brentford – who are one place above them in ninth – to just two points.