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Jamie Vardy set a new Premier League record for the most goals by a player whilst in their 30s, as his brace helped Leicester down former boss Claudio Ranieri's Watford 4-2.

Vardy made it 127 top flight goals in his incredible late-bloomer career, and replaced Ian Wright with the most scored after turning 30, with 93 since hitting the mark.

Vardy matched and took the record in front of his old boss
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Vardy matched and took the record in front of his old bossCredit: Getty
Maddison looked back to his best with a goal and two assists in the win
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Maddison looked back to his best with a goal and two assists in the winCredit: Getty
Ranieri was warmly welcomed back to the King Power, the stage of one of sport's greatest ever upsets under the Italian
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Ranieri was warmly welcomed back to the King Power, the stage of one of sport's greatest ever upsets under the ItalianCredit: Getty

The game was seen as a match up between Ranieri and his former side that he astonishingly won the league with in 2016, but James Maddison quickly wrestled the narrative away.

The England midfielder opened the scoring early on thanks to a defensive collapse from Watford, but he quickly saw his lob cancelled out by a Joshua King penalty.

Not to be deterred, Maddison twice assisted Vardy, the first of which saw the 34-year-old run and knee slide in front of his old manager in the Watford dugout.

Emmanuel Dennis cut the deficit in the second half as snow began to disrupt play at the King Power, but Ademola Lookman soon arrived on the scene to restore the Foxes' two-goal advantage and put the game to bed.

Watford hit back as snow began to fall
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Watford hit back as snow began to fallCredit: Getty
But along came Lookman to end the tie
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But along came Lookman to end the tieCredit: Getty

Most Premier League goals by players whilst in their 30s

(Age at the time of last goal)

93: Jamie Vardy (34y, 10m)

92: Ian Wright (35y, 5m)

83: Alan Shearer (35y, 8m)

81: Frank Lampard (36y, 11m)

76: Sheringham (40y, 8m)

58: Zola (36y, 9m)

58: Beardsley (36y, 8m)

The three points see pressure eased on Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers, who was without a league win in three games, a run which featured two comprehensive defeats against Arsenal and Chelsea.

It was an error-strewn display from both sides, made worse by the downpour of snow in the second-half, but Watford could do little about Maddison's star showing.

Leicester fans will be pleased to see Maddison looking back to his best
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Leicester fans will be pleased to see Maddison looking back to his bestCredit: Getty

The Arsenal-linked midfielder scored for the first time since February during victory over Brentford in October, and has since added two more goals to his tally this season.

He wasn't the only star performer though, with striker Dennis racking up an impressive feat for the Hornets since his summer signing from Club Brugge, making it five goals and five assists in 12 games.

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