Claudio Ranieri: 'Liverpool deserved to win'

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has admitted that Liverpool deserved their 1-0 victory over his side at Anfield this afternoon.

Christian Benteke scored the only goal of the game as the Foxes fell to just their second defeat of the campaign and their first away from home since March.

The result is a blow to Leicester's title ambitions having thrust themselves into contention over the opening 17 games of the season, and Ranieri challenged his side to respond when they host Manchester City at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday.

"We are very down because we wanted to win but not every time it is possible. If there is another team who plays better than you or maybe is more clear when there is a chance to score a goal then well done to them," he told reporters.

"I am not happy but it is okay. Sooner or later we had to lose. I think Liverpool deserved to win. At the beginning we were too anxious and nervous and we started to play so late, I don't know why.

"In the second half we conceded a goal which, if we are more attentive, we could close Benteke down better because it was three of my players against two of them and Benteke was alone. Now it is important to recover energy but it is more mental because there is another big match, a big challenge."

Today's match also saw Leicester fail to score in a game for the first time this season.