Jamie Vardy goal: Claudio Ranieri hails 'incredible, amazing and fantastic' strike as Foxes remain top of the table

Vardy struck a brilliant effort from 25-yards over the head of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to give Leicester the lead against Liverpool

Jamie Vardy celebrates with Danny Simpson after scoring Leicester's first goal against Liverpool (Reuters)

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri hailed Jamie Vardy’s wonder goal against Liverpool as “incredible, amazing and fantastic” after the England striker kept the Foxes at the top of the Premier League after scoring a double in their 2-0 victory on Tuesday night.

Vardy opened the scoring when he burst away from Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho to chase a long ball from Riyad Mahrez and hit a first-time effort from 25 yards that dipped over the head of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

While the striker went on to bag a much easier second to secure the three points that keep Leicester ahead of Manchester City, Ranieri was quick to praise the brilliant strike that was labelled by former Leicester striker Gary Lineker as a contender for “goal of the decade”.

"It's incredible what Vardy did. He watched the ball, watched the opponent and watched the keeper. It's amazing, fantastic. This opened the match,” Ranieri said afterwards.

Having undergone minor groin surgery in January, Vardy went through a seven-match goal drought that saw Leicester surprising title challenge wobble in recent weeks. However, he ended the frustrating run with a goal against Stoke last time out, and his performance against Liverpool showed Ranieri that he is back to his best.

"Now he is refreshed, a new Vardy, he pressed a lot, worked very hard and scored a goal,” Ranieri added.

Leicester travel to City this weekend in a top of the table clash, and Ranieri has warned his squad to be ready to “fight” in order to land a major blow in City’s hopes of overhauling the Foxes at the top.

"On Saturday we have to run, run and run a lot," Ranieri said. "It's important to see my players fight and try to win. We know sooner or later we'll lose a match but it's important how we lose. If there is a great goal, well done, but we have to fight. If Manchester City fight more than us, well done to them."

Ranieri wasn’t the only manager who lavished Vardy with praise for his effort, although Jurgen Klopp did concede that he would rather the forward saved his best goals for when he was not facing his Liverpool side.

Klopp said: "It's nice to be in a stadium when Jamie Vardy makes the goal of the month but in an ideal world not when you're the manager of the other team. It made the difference.”