Liverpool: Lack of edge cutting cost Reds – Klopp

Vardy opened the scoring in the victory at the King Power Stadium, latching on to a Riyad Mahrez pass and letting fly from distance, lobbing Mignolet in the process.

Vardy ended a seven-game goal drought against Stoke last time out and had minor groin surgery in January but Ranieri believes he has rediscovered top form.

Jamie Vardy joined the foxes in 2012 for £1m from Fleetwood and proved to be a pleasant surprise for the club. Leicester looked better for the first half, but was unable to find an opening goal.

The exciting game got the goal it deserved when Vardy scored an English goal scorer’s goal that would make Alan Shearer proud.

Overall though, despite this – Mignolet was one of our better performers – which says a lot when he conceded two goals. It’s hard to play against, as most of the teams in the Premier League have felt when they’ve met them. We know sooner or later we’ll lose a match but it’s important how we lose.

Great goals have to be appreciated in whatever circumstances they come in.

Vardy, who shone in front of England boss Roy Hodgson, confirmed he intends to stay at the King Power Stadium.

“I think it is nothing that people don’t know – obviously I would like to be here for a long time”, Vardy said.

Leicester visit their title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal in their next two games and manager Claudio Ranieri shrugged off any championship talk, saying: “Our focus is on Manchester City”.

Bottom club Aston Villa’s hopes of avoiding relegation suffered another setback when they had Jordan Ayew sent off after 17 minutes for elbowing Aaron Cresswell before slipping to a predictable 2-0 defeat at sixth-placed West Ham United.

“Klopp said: “[Vardy] made the difference tonight.

“We were only here for the result and I saw our good moments, but they were not often enough”.

“I think we had a good plan and a good style of play”. Shinji Okazaki slipped while shooting; the ball deflected into Vardy’s path, and he chipped it in for his second of the game and 18th goal of the season.

Vardy, who is close to agreeing a new three-and-a-half year contract which could see him double his existing wages, showed what he is worth to Leicester on the hour mark, firing a stunning goal-of-the-season contender over Simon Mignolet from 25 yards.