Fans react as champions Leicester overcome poor Liverpool in the Premier League

Two goals from England striker Jamie Vardy plus a brilliant Danny Drinkwater volley from outside the box gave Leicester their first Premier League victory of 2017, with Vardy’s opening strike the first goal they have scored in the top flight this calendar year.

Leicester City has lined up former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink to replace Claudio Ranieri, according to reports.

Claudio Ranieri was relaxing in Rome on Monday following his sacking as Leicester manager nine months after an historic Premier League title win – but the Italian’s presence was everywhere around the King Power Stadium as the Foxes dominated Liverpool on a night of high emotion.

They host fellow strugglers Hull on Saturday, with caretaker manager Shakespeare aiming to cement his chances of getting the job.

Yet the former England coach, who is keen to return to management and was bitterly disappointed to miss out on the Crystal Palace job to Sam Allardyce in December, is unlikely to get an opportunity at Leicester unless things unravel under Shakespeare.

“I could see in their eyes that they were up to the fight in the warm up”, the 53-year-old Shakespeare said.

He said: “My remit was one game, that’s what I said”. We have to make sure the owners do what’s right for the football club. “I did that and I managed to get in behind quite a lot”. He has kept it simple, he told us what he wanted us to do, which was very basic.

“I spoke in the dressing room about it”.

Starting the second half where they left the first, Leicester were dominant in all areas of the pitch and looked unsafe every time they got the ball while Liverpool seemed content with controlling possession.

“Bad start, bad in the middle and bad at the end”, he said. Those decisions [on the manager] are nothing to do with us.

“It’s all ifs and buts”. For me, Claudio was fantastic, he revived my career. He believed in me when many didn’t and for that I owe him my eternal gratitude.

Working harder or a different style?

Bookmakers slashed odds on the much-travelled Hodgson resuming his club management career in the Midlands and becoming the permanent successor to Ranieri, who was sacked last week.

Simpson shot down suggestions that the players had led moves against Ranieri, adding: “It is not nice to hear that”.