Vardy fires title-chasing Leicester to club record win

Leicester closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool as Jamie Vardy extended his red-hot streak with a brace in Sunday's record-breaking 4-1 rout of Aston Villa.

Brendan Rodgers' second-placed side moved within eight points of Liverpool thanks to goals from Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jonny Evans at Villa Park.

Jack Grealish had reduced the deficit to 2-1 late in the first half, but Leicester cruised to an eighth consecutive top-flight victory, setting a new club record that smashed the previous best from the 1962-63 season.

Vardy has now scored in eight consecutive Premier League appearances and is the competition's top scorer with 16 goals this term. The 32-year-old striker's blistering run has given him a chance of equalling his sequence of scoring in 11 successive matches during Leicester's 2015-16 title-winning campaign.

"I thought they were amazing, it is a historical day for the club and the performance warranted that," Rodgers said.

"It really does mean something special, it puts the team in the history books of Leicester City."

Leicester's surge up the table, after 12 wins from their last 14 league games, has made them unexpected title contenders again and leaves them in position to qualify for the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp's men remain heavy title favourites and the acid test of Leicester's credentials will come with successive fixtures against Manchester City and Liverpool over Christmas.

Newcastle fought back to make it two consecutive wins with a 2-1 success against Southampton.

Danny Ings gave Southampton a 52nd-minute lead at St James' Park, the striker running onto Jack Stephens' long pass to notch his fifth goal in his last five appearances.

But Newcastle were level in the 68th minute when Jonjo Shelvey headed in substitute Andy Carroll's cross, giving the midfielder three goals in his last three games.

Sheffield United came from behind to win 2-1 at second-bottom Norwich.

Norwich took the lead in the 27th minute through captain Alexander Tettey's powerful finish for his first Premier League goal since 2016.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019

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