Simon Mignolet insists Liverpool players “tried their best” despite losing to Leicester on Tuesday.
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But Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri remained coy about Vardy’s contract talks, joking: “I don’t know this, I’m not manager. Even when they pressed in the first half we played and then they had to run”, the German tactician regretted.
Leicester – Jamie Vardy pledged his future to Leicester after the best goal of his remarkable career inspired a 2-0 win over Liverpool that kept the shock Premier League leaders on course for the title.
Latching on to Riyad Mahrez’s long ball forward, Vardy struck on the volley to beat Liverpool goalkeeper from all of 30 yards out.
In the latest sign that Leicester City are true Premier League title contenders, they have gone from surprise package to a known quantity that rivals just can not stop.
“You have to be there [as a goalkeeper] to help the team out and so I was happy at 0-0 at half-time but second half he scored a great goal”. Aside from a short stretch at the end of December and beginning of January, Leicester has been the best team every minute of the EPL season.
“The team is in good condition”.
Asked whether the club have any fear after the Liverpool win, Ranieri told Sky Sports: “No because we enjoy when we play”.
Their two standout performers of the campaign linked up for it, with Mahrez sending a ball over the top, although it was all about the finish as Vardy slammed a stunning first-time half-volley into the top corner from outside the box.
Mignolet acknowledged that Vardy’s opening goal was an excellent strike and demanded that Liverpool respond by securing a victory at home to his former club Sunderland on Saturday. “So I think you saw in this goal, it made the difference tonight”, said Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool manager. “He watched the ball arriving, watched the opponent and watched the ‘keeper”. This says most about the game.
West Ham are now competing for a top-four place themselves, after impressing over the season so far.
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He acknowledged to journalists after full-time that he didn’t “feel too good in this moment” saying that whilst he can “absolutely no problem” accept the defeat, he believes “with a few things we would have done differently today, we could have won this game”.
