Cast your minds back to this time in 2015. The audacious Nigel Pearson was Leicester City boss, and was leading the Foxes to the greatest escape in Premier League history.

After Leicester was seven points adrift at the bottom of the table in December – with a dismal 19 points from 27 matches – seven wins, in Pearson’s last nine games in charge, saw them become the only Premier League side to ever avoid relegation with less than 20 points at Christmas.

Fast forward two months and Pearson had got the sack, Claudio Ranieri was appointed manager and the next season Leicester won the league, in the most improbable reversal of fortune in Premier League history.

In terms of seasonal turnarounds, not even Summer following Winter could have shocked more. But is the stage now set for history to repeat itself?

Over the past few months, Crystal Palace has had an equally impressive transformation under Sam Allardyce, moving from 19th position to 12th in just eight games, before eventually settling to their current position six points above the drop.

Moreover, they possess a few key similarities to Leicester, in both players and style, which bode mouth-watering comparisons to the Foxes’ title triumph.

The public quickly forgot Allardyce’s side picked up only four out of a possible 30 points in his first 10 games when they won six of their next eight, catapulting themselves to safety.

In many ways, it had become the usual story for the English manager. When the going gets tough, Big Sam gets going.

Wilfried Zaha in action against Liverpool

But rather than another campaign of Bear Grylls-style survival at all costs, next season Crystal Palace has the potential for much more, in a league that’s already shown its vulnerability to teams with their skillset.

The style in which Palace accomplished such an unlikely feat (or likely, according to which statistics you’re looking at) draws hefty comparisons to Leicester City’s flight from relegation in 2014/15.

The most impressive characteristic of the Eagle’s startling form – and the easiest to compare to Leicester’s – was their performances against the Premier League’s elite.

If a 2-1 away win against Chelsea merely shocked the league, then a 3-0 home demolishing of Arsenal sent a clear warning: Big Sam has a side with much greater potential than many gave them credit for.

While Allardyce’s reputation may still be under repair, the real key to Palace’s threat, as with any great side, isn’t the manager, it’s the players. Palace’s dangerous similarities to the Leicester of old also shine through its roster.

Wilfried Zaha is the first cab off the rank, and has deservedly drawn immense praise for his contributions towards the end of this season. Like Riyadh Mahrez for Leicester, Zaha adds an entirely new dimension to his team.

Both are agile and balanced wingers, with blistering pace and dazzling ability, and Zaha’s now taking his game to the next level. In doing so, he’ll have no better role model than the irrepressible Algerian.

Christian Benteke celebrates after scoring

Next, and although a world apart in fortes, there is one key similarity between Jamie Vardy and Christian Benteke – goals, and lots of them. It was a surprise when Vardy first started scoring for fun, but with Benteke, it’s an expectation.

The combination of a pacey, creative winger and consistent, deadly striker that both the Foxes and Eagles share, allows them to offer a constant threat on the counter, without the need to expose themselves defensively.

This is how Leicester dominated the 2015-16 season, and it’s a style Sam Allardyce is used to implementing.

On the opposite wing, Andros Townsend and Marc Albrighton correspond to equal effect.

While both players differ in style, Palace, like Leicester, possesses dangerous flanks that encourage width, allow penetrating crosses from either side and keep opposition defences stretched, knowing they’re unable to purely crowd Zaha out of the game, without Townsend having free reign.

Townsend also allows an attacking triple-threat, with Palace able to overload key areas of the pitch quicker than most opponents.

Townsend has shown this season that, while he’s still not consistent enough, he certainly has the quality to stake his claim for an England jersey.

Andros Townsend arrives for action

Behind them is the overpowering creative force of Yohan Cabaye. The 48-cap France international gives Palace another attacking threat, but is most valuable due to his crucial level of class, composure and patience on the ball

What Cabaye can offer Palace – as someone who has won Ligue 1, no less – is arguably even greater than what Danny Drinkwater offered Leicester, and that’s saying something.

Although there is a lack of attacking depth on Allardyce’s bench, like Leicester last season, Palace has proven they can score goals with few chances, which again, is how Leicester won the league.

But enough about the forwards. If they’re a counter-attacking side, do the Eagles stack up defensively?

While Palace’s defence has troubled them all season, it’s worth mentioning that Leicester’s partnership of Robert Huth and Wes Morgan were far from renowned defenders before 2015.

Ranieri implemented two distinct changes that assisted his previously average defenders to become title winners. Firstly, the Italian used his wealth of experience to structure Leicester’s style around tight defensive organisation. (Allardyce? Tick.)

Secondly, he brought in one of the best defensive midfielders to grace the Premier League since Claude Makelele. (We’ll get to him later)

Crystal Palace currently has defenders equally able to take that vital step-up, and a manager far more renowned than Ranieri for his defensive organisation and statistical approach to improvement – a defenders dream.

Although whether he’ll stay in South London is in doubt, in Mamadou Sakho, Palace currently has a defensive leader and a pillar of experience and quality that compares with Huth, if not even more favourably.

The turnaround in James Tomkin’s form since Sakho joined Palace has been incredible, and the 28 cap French international has shown he has the qualities needed in a title-winning centreback.

This isn’t to mention Scott Dann, who less than two seasons ago was favoured to be a potential member of England’s starting backline.

Should Palace’s defensive injury problems disappear – which, using Leicester as an example, may be the most important factor in any enduring success – Big Sam’s side may boast a far more ferocious defence than anyone expects.

But the most exciting defensive comparison arrives – you guessed it –in defensive midfield.

Just how good Luka Milivojevic is remains to be tested, but first impressions of the former Olympiakos player are incredibly promising. 400 passes, 31 accurate through balls and 36 interceptions in his first 11 games in the Premier League stacks up favourably with N'Golo Kante's first 11 games at Leicester.

Allardyce may have just unearthed the gem of his career in the spritely Serbian, who crucially possesses much more than just an intimidatingly well-timed tackle, showcasing vision that stretches a fifty-yard pass right to the feet of a dazzling Zaha.

It’s a mouth-watering combination that football fans have seen before.

There are holes in this theory however. Palace’s fullbacks are more Danny Simpson and less Christian Fuchs. They’re committed, but lacking in serious capacity. The use of Leicester reject Jordan Schlupp acts as the perfect allegory for this qualm.

Patrick Van Aanholt is a symbol of Allardyce’s recognition that improvement is needed in this area, and the fullback has shown that in the right system, he can be used to devastating effect.

However, there are still question marks over whether he’s the quality of player Palace need.

Skipper Jason Puncheon is another question mark. Continually dropping deeper in his later years, the midfielder offers a wealth of experience, excellent close control and an ability to transition defence to attack himself.

But he has his weaknesses. His pressing, at times, leaves his side open, and he doesn’t have the strength his position often requires. If it wasn’t for the importance of his role, his presence could go unscrutinised. But whether he’s of the quality needed to fulfil Palace’s ambitions is a cause for consternation.

Then there’s the little problem of the goalkeeper. It’s easy to forget just how sensational Kasper Schmeichel was last season, and the extra dimension his distribution gave Leicester’s forwards.

Steve Mandanda clearly has the quality and experience to form a formidable last line of defence, but when the shot-stopper returns from injury – should he even stay at Palace – Mandanda’s confidence, and inconsistent distribution, will be key to his side’s success.

Using last season as a guide, Steve Parish will be likely to offer continued investment in order to keep Palace’s squad together, as a lack of excitement could see the likes of Zaha, Sakho and even Allardyce quickly depart.

Allardyce is more of an unknown quantity now. For so long he’s been an avoiding relegation-specialist, but following the England appointment he now holds a different aura, and expectations will be much higher.

A West Ham-esque performance for Palace and Allardyce next season, with a strong start and quick fade won’t be enough, and he’ll know it.

With this current team, Palace has the potential to be far stronger than West Ham was, just as Allardyce has the potential to take his leadership (and reputation) to even greater heights.

In the Leicester of 2015/16, Palace has an incredible role-model to do so. Allardyce will impart his own style, as he should, but certain similarities will not be lost on him.

But regardless of whether Palace are equipped for a title tilt, and almost no-one would give them that chance, it will be interesting to watch them play next season.

Nobody gave Leicester a chance either, and look how that turned out.