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Leicester must take advantage of 'crazy' Premier League season - Ranieri

Leicester's lofty position in the Premier League presents them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that manager Claudio Ranieri wants the club to take full advantage of.

Ranieri likened Leicester's surprise title challenge to David and Goliath as his unfancied team, relegation strugglers 12 months ago under Nigel Pearson, rival the established elite of Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table.

Leicester host Liverpool on Tuesday with a three-point lead at the summit and Ranieri has urged his players and the club's hierarchy to capitalise on the indifferent campaigns of the likes of Chelsea, defending champions, and Manchester United, as it may never happen again.
The Italian made it clear to the Srivaddhanaprabha family, Leicester's Thai owners, the likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez must not be sold during the January transfer window, while at the same time getting them to sanction moves for Damarai Gray and Daniel Amartey.

Leicester were also trying to sign another striker as the deadline drew nearer on Monday night, with Chelsea's Loic Remy their number one target, but missed out.

Ranieri said: "This is a crazy league.

"We are doing a fantastic season but I believe some teams are underachieving, but I don't know the reason. If Leicester is top of the league there is something strange, but for us it's good.

"We are at a high level and we want to stay at the top but it is because a lot of the big teams aren't in their normal position.

"It is a strange league this year and a team like us can do something good. This is the right moment for us to push a lot because next season it's not the same, it is not a normal Premier League. But we fight because next season is the truth.

"I have very good players and I make it very clear we don't sell. The owner wants to build a very good team, for this reason I am here. He wants to build and to achieve the high level. This is a strange season and we have to make a lot of that.

"It is the start of the February matches and we are ready to fight.

"Now it is important to focus 100 percent. Tomorrow [Tuesday] is the last match to finish the Premier League for us. That is it for us, match by match. Every game is the final one to finish the Premier League."

Leicester's fairytale season has captured the hearts and imagination of the football fraternity and the Foxes have become a lot of supporters' "second team."

Ranieri likes that, and says he will try to channel that positivity into the remaining months of the campaign.

"I think this is a positive combination," he said. "A lot of people stop me on the street and say I am a fan of another team but if Leicester win the title I am very happy.

"That is good, it is positive. We need positive to be strong. Like David and Goliath. We are fighting.

"We want to stay at the top. We are working every day with confidence, and it is important to be confident, and positive."

Leicester have no new fitness problems for the visit of Liverpool. Shinji Okazaki hobbled off injured against Stoke nine days ago but the striker will be fit.

Amartey is not expected to be involved but he could be ready for the huge clash against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Midfielder Matty James (knee) and Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring) remain unavailable.