RANIERI-LESS LEICESTER SPARK BACK INTO LIFE

RANIERI'S LIGHT IS OUT BUT LEICESTER SPARK INTO LIFE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

The Italian manager was relieved of his duties last week, but his former charges put in a performance against Liverpool to remember.

There was a light-display in the 65th minute around the stands of the King Power Stadium in tribute to sacked manager Claudio Ranieri; the man who came from Italy to coach Leicester City to their first and only Premier League title.

Leicester shrug off Liverpool

This game against Liverpool was Leicester’s first match since the Thai owners not so much swung the axe as put the old sheepdog out of his misery.

There have been precious few moments this season when Leicester’s football matched their output from the last campaign but tonight was one. It is indeed a shame for Ranieri that he had to be sacrificed before his team produced it.

What Ranieri, interim first-team coach Craig Shakespeare and the players did last season was not rocket science. It was simple football – well executed – and it served them well.

"He told us what he wanted us to do, which was very simple and basic and we’ve done that," said defender Danny Simpson to Sky Sports . "Let’s hope we can carry that on for him."

Ranieri – it has been suggested – overcomplicated the formula this season in an effort to make Leicester less predictable but that left his players bemused and dissatisfied with what they were being asked to do.

Shakespeare took the team back to basics here and got a result – and a performance – worthy of being in last season’s canon.

The level of disdain that has been levelled at Leicester’s champion players in the past few days is undeserved. No matter how likeable Ranieri, it was not him out there making saves and blocks or providing dribbles and goals.

A group of ordinary players played above themselves for a full campaign; to ascribe the credit for their success solely to Ranieri is wrongheaded.

"I’d be lying if I said it’s not hurt the lads," Simpson said. "Of course it has. We can come out and say this and say that but it’s football that does the talking. I think everyone tonight was fantastic but we have to kick on now."