Brendan Rodgers hails "outstanding" Steven Gerrard

Brendan Rodgers has paid tribute to Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard for his "outstanding" performance in tonight's 3-1 win away to Leicester City.

The 34-year-old netted the Reds' second of the night at the King Power Stadium to put his team 2-1 up, with Adam Lallana earlier cancelling out Simon Mignolet's own goal.

Rodgers had dropped his captain for Saturday's win over Stoke City, but the Northern Irishman says that Gerrard remains a "very important player" for him.

"I think you saw the energy in his legs tonight and his influence in the game, especially as [the match] wore on," he told the club's official website.

"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."

Jordan Henderson struck the third goal of the night to cap a win that saw the Merseysiders climb to eighth in the Premier League table.