Claudio Ranieri praises Riyad Mahrez for gifting Jamie Vardy penalty chance

• Mahrez allowed Vardy to take penalty that gave him ninth consecutive goal
• Ruud van Nistelrooy holds the Premier League record of 10

Jamie Vardy moved within touching distance of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League games by hammering in the penalty that lifted Leicester City level with Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the table.

Only Van Nistelrooy stands in front of Vardy after the striker scored for the ninth consecutive game, his 12th goal of the season making the difference for Leicester in their 2-1 home victory against Watford. With Arsenal and City not playing until Sunday afternoon, Claudio Ranieri’s side joined them on 25 points.

It was the perfect send-off for Vardy before he joins up with England for their friendlies against Spain on Friday and France the following Tuesday. There was a minor controversy against Watford when Vardy won Leicester’s penalty in the 65th minute, only for Riyad Mahrez to grab the ball and move towards the spot. However, Mahrez eventually gave the ball to Vardy.

“When Riyad Mahrez gave Jamie the penalty, it was a great moment,” Ranieri said. “We have two strikers who can shoot the penalty, they choose on the pitch who feels good, and they can shoot. Riyad said to him: ‘Take it.’”

Ranieri was asked if Vardy can break Van Nistelrooy’s record. Leicester’s next match is the trip to Newcastle United on 21 November. “I hope,” Ranieri said. “The break is not so good for us in this moment.”

There has been a debate about whether Roy Hodgson should play Vardy through the middle rather than on the flanks, but Ranieri would not be drawn on the issue. “When he plays in the middle he can attack on the left or right, when he stays on the left he can attack in just one area,” Leicester’s manager said. “But this is my team, Roy has another team. For us it’s important he scores goals and the transfer window is far.”

Watford’s manager, Quique Sánchez Flores, was full of praise for Vardy. “He connects with the fans in the stand,” the Spaniard said. “The energy of this player is very positive, always running, always pressing, always trying to get behind the defensive line.”

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Jacob Steinberg at the King Power Stadium

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