If Leicester end up qualifying for the
Champions League next season then Brendan Rodgers may be tempted to send his regards to Pepe Reina. The Aston Villa goalkeeper fell out spectacularly with Rodgers when he took over at
Liverpool before being shown the door, but it was the veteran’s rush of blood to the head just before half-time that gifted his former manager a first league victory since the end of January. A second-half double from Jamie Vardy after he came off the bench and a second goal for the superb Harvey Barnes wrapped up victory for the home side as Villa’s Dean Smith cut a disconsolate figure at full-time.
There had been a sense of urgency among home fans before kick-off having seen their cushion over the chasing pack whittled down to just five points following Manchester United’s derby victory on Sunday. “You want hear that special
music next season, don’t you?” asked the stadium announcer in reference to the competition they contested in 2017 – reaching the quarter-finals – as he attempted to whip up the atmosphere on a miserable evening in the east Midlands.