JAMIE VARDY’S stunning volley set Leicester on its way to a 2-0 victory over Liverpool on Tuesday, keeping the unlikely title challengers top of the Premier League on a night Manchester United rediscovered its scoring touch at Old Trafford.

    Manchester City and Tottenham also won to stay in touch with Leicester, but Arsenal was held 0-0 by Southampton and dropped to fourth place.

    Leicester preserved its three-point lead over City and its title charge shows no sign of slowing — nor does Vardy’s prolific form this season.

    The England striker volleyed in a looping shot from 25 meters before adding another goal in the second half to sink Liverpool at King Power Stadium and take his tally to 18 this campaign.

    “We are free of pressure,” Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri said. “The players have a good feeling.”

    United beat Stoke 3-0, scoring in the first half at home for the first time since September. Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney — with his seventh goal in his last seven games — scored for United, which trimmed the gap to the Champions League qualification places to five points.

    Criticized for much of the season for its risk-averse attacking approach, United has scored six goals in its last two games.

    “A result like that settles the nerves of the fans, the players, even the manager,” Lingard said. “Hopefully now we can go on a run.”

    (SD-Agencies)