Premier League: Jamie Vardy keeps Leicester flying

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy (left) scores the opening goal in their Premier League match against Liverpool in Leicester on Tuesday. The hosts won 2-0. — AFP

Jamie Vardy scored a brace including a sensational long-range goal as Leicester City sank Liverpool 2-0 on Tuesday to safeguard their spot at the Premier League summit.

Manchester City kept pace, the day after Pep Guardiola was anno-unced as their new manager, by winning 1-0 at Sunderland, but Arsenal fell five points below the summit after a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Southampton.

Man United blew off the cobwebs in a 3-0 win over Stoke City, but nothing could overshadow the predatory brilliance of Vardy, whose goals preserved Leicester’s three-point lead over second-place Man City.

“The first goal was unbelievable,” said Leicester manager Clau-dio Ranieri.

“Jamie is very fast and can create a lot, but it was unbelievable how (Riyad) Mahrez found him and how he had the time to see the keeper out of the goal and score a fantastic goal.

“The team is in good condition. Now it is important to recover the energy because we have to run a lot against Manchester City.”

Reports had emerged earlier in the day that Vardy is due to sign a new contract and the 29-year-old England striker delivered a perfectly timed reminder of his talent at the King Power Stadium.

He opened the scoring on the hour with a goal-of-the-season contender from wide on the right, running onto Riyad Mahrez’s pass from the Leicester half, allowing the ball to bounce and ripping a ferocious, dipping strike over Simon Mignolet from 30 yards.

Eleven minutes later Vardy made the game safe, netting his 18th goal of the campaign from Shinji Okazaki’s deflected shot, as Ranieri’s men produced another stunning performance to bolster their remarkable title bid.

Arsenal’s title hopes took a blow in a goalless draw with Southampton that left Arsene Wenger’s men in fourth place, five points below Leicester.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men won 3-0 at Norwich City courtesy of a second-minute Dele Alli goal and a Harry Kane double — a 30th-minute penalty, won by Alli, and a calm one-on-one finish late on.

Fifth-place Manchester United remain five points off the Champions League places after putting Stoke to the sword with uncharacteristic verve.

West Ham United remain a point behind United in sixth place after a 2-0 win at home to bottom club Aston Villa, who had Jordan Ayew sent off in the 17th minute for a blatant elbow on Aaron Cresswell.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth came from behind to win 2-1 at Crystal Palace.