Leicester boss Ranieri: Sooner or later we had to lose

Klopp was delighted to see an end to Liverpool’s four-game run without a victory in all competitions and felt his side handled the opposition and blustery conditions very well.

Claudio Ranieri’s front-runners had faltered but it was not a second Premier League defeat of the season that troubled him so much as Leicester City’s inability to enjoy life at the summit.

Only two players have been involved in more goals than Riyad Mahrez (20) in the top five European leagues so far in 2015-16 – Aubameyang (22) and Ibrahimovic (21). No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. But his match-winning goal came just after the hour-mark, after a cut-back from Robert Firmino.

The defeat was Leicester’s first since losing 5-2 to Arsenal on September 26.

Christian Benteke of Liverpool celebrates scoring against Leicester City on Saturday at Anfield.

“Everybody thinks [manager] Roy [Hodgson] should lead these boys to the title, they have really good players. I’m not happy, but it’s OK”. Sooner or later we had to lose. Leicester City sat bottom of the table after loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day, slumping deeper into their thirteen match winless streak. They finish their holiday schedule at home to Bournemouth next Saturday.

Before coming off injured Divock Origi was enjoying a very good battle with Wes Morgan, one of the many encounters in the 25th minute saw the Belgian shrug off Morgan and get a shot off at the near post but Schmeichel managed to save well with his body. The lively winger was replaced by Benteke.

Now he may need to start rehearsing inevitable questioning as to whether the galloping first half of the season will take its toll. N’Golo Kante nearly scored by turning a cross from Christian Fuchs toward goal, only for returning Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to make a low save. Jamie Vardy, the Foxes’ goal-machine this year, was not a factor, managing only a looping header toward goal that never troubled Mignolet. If they’re to continue their fairy tale campaign in this match, Leicester will have to defy the history books once more.

Leicester roused themselves only after Benteke’s sixth goal of the season – it reflects badly on Liverpool that the struggling striker is now their leading goalscorer – and, with Manchester City to come on Tuesday, this was a bad time to suggest resources are stretched by the demanding festive schedule.

Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge insists he is ready for a return from his hamstring injury in a boost to manager Jurgen Klopp.

“We played too complicated in Watford last week, we played how we in Germany say “in their cards” – how they wanted us to play”.