Leicester City 1-3 Liverpool: Gerrard sends message

Liverpool may want to re-think the contract offer made to Steven Gerrard after their captain bailed them out in a 3-1 comeback victory over Leicester like he has done so many times in the past.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard shows his delight at putting his side ahead in the 3-1 victory. Picture: Getty

Scorers: Leicester City - Mignolet (22og); Liverpool - Lallana (26), Gerrard (54), Henderson (83)

The former England midfielder’s current deal expires in the summer and, despite the offer of an extension, he has yet to commit to stay at the club he has been with since he was nine.

But while Gerrard may be deliberating his next move, reportedly wanting double the one-year contract on offer, he showed no hesitation on the pitch with a coolly-placed goal to set his side on the way to victory and provide a reminder of glory days gone by.

Restored to the starting line-up after being rested against Stoke on the 16th anniversary of his debut at the weekend – and now relieved from defensive duties in a more advanced role – the midfielder responded with his first goal in open play since the Merseyside derby at Anfield in January.

That completed the comeback after Adam Lallana had equalised goalkeeper Simon Mignolet’s unfortunate own goal in the first half and, when Wes Morgan was shown a red card, Jordan Henderson secured back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since October.

A week can be a long time in football and in the space of seven days Gerrard and Mignolet have both experienced highs and lows.

Having been at fault for Ludogorets’ opener in their Champions League draw in Bulgaria last Wednesday, the Belgium goalkeeper looked to have turned a corner with a clean sheet at the weekend.

However, the hosts’ opener was unlucky in some ways as Mignolet, initially, made a good save when Jamie Vardy raced on to Riyad Mahrez’s through-ball. But from the rebound Martin Skrtel could only weakly head out Ulloa’s follow-up and the striker was given enough time to collect the ball and smash a shot against the near post which cannoned off Mignolet’s head and into the net.

Liverpool’s response was almost instantaneous; Gerrard’s free-kick was half-cleared to Lucas Leiva whose cross dropped at the feet of Lallana off Morgan and he smashed home the 50th league goal of his career.

But it was the Gerrard of old who strode into the penalty area in the 54th minute, having been involved in the build-up play, to caress a shot past Kasper Schmeichel.

Leicester captain Morgan was then red-carded just past the hour for hauling down Rickie Lambert before Raheem Sterling produced the cut-back for Henderson to score the third.

Leicester: Schmeichel,De Laet, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky (Albrighton 80), Mahrez, James, Cambiasso, Schlupp, Ulloa, Vardy. Subs Not Used: Drinkwater, King, Hamer, Moore, Knockaert, Wood.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Manquillo (Moreno 46), Skrtel, Toure, Johnson, Henderson, Lucas, Lallana (Allen 70), Gerrard, Sterling (Lovren 90), Lambert. Subs Not Used: Brad Jones, Coutinho, Can, Markovic.