Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has claimed that Leicester City deserve more respect for their performances throughout the season.

The Foxes are currently top of the Premier League table, three points clear of second-placed Manchester City ahead of their meeting at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.

Claudio Ranieri's side are not the favourites with the bookmakers, however, and their ability to hold on to first place has been questioned in various quarters.

Carragher has admitted that he is finding it hard to accept criticism of Leicester, who he believes deserve to be taken more seriously.

"What do you look for from the Premier League champions? The first thing you expect them to have is one of the leading scorers in the division, a man who has made the difference in the big moments," Carragher wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

"Next you would anticipate them having the best player in the country, someone whose performances have lit up the campaign and inspired those around him. After that, you would assume they would have the fewest losses and win the games that matter. Leicester City tick every single one of those boxes.

"So why are they not being taken seriously still? How come opposition fans are thinking 'It's only Leicester', as if to imply they should be beating them easily? They wouldn't be that way before a game against Manchester City or Arsenal, so why be like that before facing the league leaders?"

Leicester's Jamie Vardy has scored 18 Premier League goals this season, including twice in a 2-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday night.