Claudio Ranieri relaxed despite defeat to Liverpool

It was all about reactions at Anfield.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has been ultra-realistic about his side’s incredible run of form this term and he remained philosophical after what was only their second defeat of the campaign.

JURGEN KLOPP HAS again ruled out the possibility of Steven Gerrard rejoining Liverpool on loan this season, but acknowledges the club are still coming to terms with the departure of their inspirational former captain.

“This was important, we had the chance to beat the league leaders”.

Although Benteke squandered a golden chance in the dying moments, shooting at defender Wes Morgan after Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had gone up for a throw-in, he emerged as the match-winner. Now he wants more, and not only in front of goal.

He earned a temperate “well done”‘ from his manager, while -being served a pertinent reminder that goals are not enough.

“Pressure? To be honest I don’t think we will play another game this season with pressure, we’ve got ourselves in a brilliant situation and we are doing fantastic – we deserve to be where we are”, he insisted. We are not a team that can play with a striker who scores a goal but is not involved in the game for the other 89 minutes.

“I won’t complain. It’s part of football”, Benteke said.

“We tried to do the best towards the end”. He knows what he has to do. He controlled the game in the midfield and seemed to have formed a good partnership with Emre Can.

Benteke’s all-round contribution will assume greater importance to Liverpool should Origi be sidelined for an extended period. “There is no doubt he brings goals”, said Klopp. Christian is a fast player, but Divock is a little bit more a player for these runs, these ways and what we needed behind the last line of the opponent.

Ask Liverpool what they would do if anyone offered pounds 32?million for Benteke in January and you will hear about preposterous speculation, the need for patience, evolving the forward’s game and the -potential that can be unlocked.

“I don’t want to see him in training”.

“We have to try things, we have to create things, we have to change things because the number of games is a big difference”.

Leicester rallied after falling behind. Like any striker you need a few games, I wanted to start, of course, every player wants to play but it is the decision of the manager and I have to be ready.

The feeble display was a stark contrast to the arrogant attacking shows that had taken them to the top of the English top tier.

They stayed top after Arsenal’s defeat by Southampton, but many are now expecting the wheels to come off in their unlikely journey to the summit.

“Yes, our rivals, or so you think!” laughed the Italian. It is our dream.

“It’s hard to say because obviously we don’t know yet what he has, hopefully it’s not too bad”.

“I was not anxious about fitting in or not because now football has changed”.

“It is in our mind, we have to recover”, he said. Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. It is how we react mentally now.