Shakespeare tells players to take inspiration from ‘Great Escape’

Leicester City will step up their search for Claudio Ranieri’s successor this week with caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare demanding the spirit of the ‘Great Escape’.

Shakespeare, Ranieri’s former No2, is a serious contender to take the job for the rest of the season and would enhance his chances with a victory over Liverpool tonight.

Guus Hiddink, Vitor Pereira and Alan Pardew have all been tentatively approached over the past few days as Leicester assess their options, following the controversial dismissal of Ranieri last Thursday.

Shakespeare is also thought to be under consideration after establishing an excellent reputation working as assistant for Ranieri and his predecessor, Nigel Pearson.

The 53-year-old was part of Pearson’s backroom staff two seasons ago when Leicester won seven of their final nine games to scramble to Premier League safety.

“It would be nice to get that again and it was a great time then in terms of we were written off. We are not written off now,” Shakespeare said. “Of course I understand the seriousness of it in terms of where we are in the league. People tell you the league table doesn’t lie. We have to make sure we are doing everything we can to climb up that league. There are 13 games left and this squad are good enough to get themselves out of this – that will be the message.”

The defending champions have won only five league games this season and will face Jürgen Klopp’s team at the King Power Stadium in the bottom three after Crystal Palace’s win over Middlesbrough on Saturday. Leicester have also failed to score in the league this year but will be in confident mood after a spirited second-half performance in the Champions League against Sevilla last Wednesday.

Riyad Mahrez, the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year, said: “We know it is a bad moment but we have the quality to stay in the Premier League. I think we are a team of confidence. If we win games, we score, everything goes on fine but that is not happening this season. We keep losing and losing.

“We are part of a team so if it is difficult for us it is difficult for everyone. We just have to stay together as always and keep fighting because we know we have the quality to stay up and to do better.”