Rodgers: Influential SG was outstanding

The 34-year-old netted the Reds' crucial second goal at the King Power Stadium, coolly slotting home a loose ball inside the box just after the half-time interval.

The visitors had earlier fallen behind after Leonardo Ulloa's shot found the back of the net via a combination of the woodwork and Simon Mignolet's back, but Adam Lallana quickly drew them level with a snap volley.

Gerrard then put Liverpool in front before Jordan Henderson ensured the three points would be heading to Merseyside when he powered Raheem Sterling's backheel into the net at the finish.

Watch the video here »

Afterwards, Rodgers was fulsome in his praise for his skipper's impact on the contest after he was restored to the starting line-up having begun Saturday's win over Stoke City on the bench.

He told his post-match press conference: "I think you saw the energy in his legs tonight and his influence in the game, especially as [the match] wore on. It was an outstanding performance from Steven and an excellent goal.

"At this stage of his career, it's about the level of the game. He's a very important player for us. Like you saw tonight, he's not 24 anymore.

"You have to do that with players at this part of their career. So for me it's about mapping out the rest of the season for him and looking at the games to play him in. That's what you have to do as a manager - plan forward."

Rodgers felt Gerrard's energetic display in the Midlands demonstrated the importance of tailoring the No.8's schedule to enable him to turn in performances of such quality.

He said: "People talk about being fair with every player. As a manager and managing certain players, it's unfair to treat everyone the same, especially someone of Steven Gerrard's stature.

"I had a great respect for Steven watching him from the outside - and an even greater one from the inside working with him.

"I've shown in my time at Liverpool and anywhere else I've ever been, but particularly here, the sentiment doesn't come into it for me, it really doesn't. I pick Steven Gerrard because I still think he can really influence a game of football for us.

"When I first came in, people were talking about whether he was going to be able to play with how I work, but last year he was absolutely magnificent - he scored 14 goals in all competitions.

"Irrespective of the player or his status, for me it's what is best for the team. I know at this moment in time, if I can manage Steven Gerrard, his training and his games, he can still have a real impact for this team.

"Even though he's approaching 35 at the end of this season, he's still got fantastic qualities. Like every other player, no matter how good they are, there comes a time in their career when the wheels are out and they're ready to land - but he's not ready to land yet. You can see from tonight, he's still got lots of energy there."

[SLIDESHOW]

Gerrard was deployed further forward against the Foxes, operating just behind Rickie Lambert and ahead of Henderson and Lucas Leiva.

Explaining the positional shift, Rodgers said: "In how I set the team up last season, Steven was a playmaker and played behind the midfield. The reason for that was because we had three super-quick players up front - Sturridge, who could spin off a shoulder, Suarez, who wanted to run in behind, and Sterling.

"He wasn't a defensive midfield player - he was more of a playmaker but played in that deeper position.

"We looked at that again this year, looking at where we were set up, and we don't have that similar type of game, so we have to change the structure of that.

"Steven can still have a great influence, but maybe I need to pick him in a different role and position. That's what we've done in the last few games and changed the structure behind that.

"As a coach, you look at the players you have in order to get the best out of them. He looked fresh in his running tonight, he dropped back into midfield to make up the third man, so he's played in there and understands that role, but obviously he's got a natural instinct to get forward and join in.

"His combinations with Raheem and Rickie were very good and he arrived in the spot you'd want him to when the ball was cut back and it was a great finish. He was outstanding tonight, but that's something I've always known."

Liverpool's victory over Leicester followed a spirited 2-2 draw against Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League and a 1-0 success against Stoke at Anfield on Saturday.

Having previously been on a run of four consecutive defeats, Rodgers believes his players are displaying enough signals to suggest they're on their way back to top form - and the manager was eager to highlight the mentality of his squad in recent matches.

He said: "What's important for me is the spirit. Ludogorets was a good performance. We had a good performance at the weekend [against Stoke] even if it was a tight game. I think being competitive is very important for us.

"People looked at our football and the fluency in our football and the speed in our game and we've always been competitive. But for that little spell up until Crystal Palace, we weren't.

"We've changed it around and looked at the mentality of the team going into the games and the focus and the concentration and that, over the last three games, has been excellent.

"I can see that we've still got a way to go, but we're going to fight our way through these performances and the spell that we were in. We've now got really exciting games coming up and we want to keep performing and keep winning.

"Make no mistake, this is a tough place to come. Leicester have only lost once here all season. They've played Arsenal and they've played Everton, and had some tough games here. They beat Manchester United, so this is a tough place to come.

"The momentum is important. That's three good performances now and results, so it's small steps but we've still got a lot of work to do. We'll get to where we want to get to. You saw the spirit in the team tonight. They kept fighting right until the very end and we ended up with a very good result."

Rodgers also lavished praise on the form of Sterling, who played a key role in Liverpool's final two goals to cap another energetic showing. "He's got that zip back in his game again," said the boss.

"His pace, his running ability, his skill - he's looked a lot better in the last three games. Again, the mental fitness of the team has picked up, which is important, and that puts the extra energy into their legs. He's looked a real threat."