Two by Vardy as Leicester defeat Liverpool

Two by Vardy as Leicester defeat Liverpool

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy fires the goal that started the King Power team to a win over Liverpool. (Reuters photo)
Leicester City's Jamie Vardy fires the goal that started the King Power team to a win over Liverpool. (Reuters photo)

LEICESTER - Leicester began life without manager Claudio Ranieri by easing their English Premier League relegation fears with a stirring 3-1 home victory over Liverpool on Monday (early Tuesday Thailand time).

In the first game since Ranieri was sacked last Thursday by the club's Thai owners, Jamie Vardy scored twice for the struggling 2016 champions.


LEICESTER CITY 3 LIVERPOOL 1

  • Jamie Vardy put the champions in front after 28 minutes
  • Danny Drinkwater doubled their lead with a superb volley
  • Vardy made it 3-0 after 60 minutes with a header
  • Philippe Coutinho scored a consolation for Liverpool
  • Leicester home to Hull next, Liverpool host Arsenal

Danny Drinkwater also netted with a superb long-range strike. It helped propel Leicester out of the relegation places and up to 15th, two points above the drop zone with 12 games remaining.

Vardy scored 24 league goals last season but the England international's goals in either half were just his sixth and seventh of this campaign.

Ranieri was dismissed nine months after masterminding one of the biggest sporting shocks of all time by leading the 5,000-1 outsider to league glory.

But Leicester has failed to replicate that form. Before facing Liverpool, it had won just five league games. Five consecutive league defeats sent it spiralling down the standings.

The host, with Ranieri's assistant, Craig Shakespeare, in interim charge, made a bright start with Shinji Okazaki forcing Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet into an early diving save.

Center back Robert Huth wastefully headed over from a corner, and Mignolet blocked Vardy's volley as Leicester showed plenty of attacking intent.

The home side's pressure was rewarded when a through ball from Marc Albrighton sent Vardy away on goal and last season's leading scorer calmly slotted past Mignolet to give Leicester the lead after 28 minutes.

Juat 11 minutes later, Leicester fans were on their feet again to acclaim an outstanding goal from Drinkwater, the midfielder sending a dipping volley past Mignolet from fully 30 meters.

Vardy got his second on the hour when he headed in a Christian Fuchs cross and, although Liverpool enjoyed its best spell after Philippe Coutinho pulled a goal back in the 68th, Leicester held firm.

Liverpool remained in fifth place but has only one league win this year.

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