Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard converted two penalties, but saw his side surrender a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Leicester City in the Premier League on New Year’s Day.
Experienced midfielder Gerrard, who has yet to sign a new contract at Anfield, underlined his quality from the spot with two well-taken kicks in the first half.
However, bottom-ranked Leicester fought back after halftime and secured a point when Jeffrey Schlupp equalized on the hour mark, two minutes after David Nugent had pulled a goal back with a spectacular half-volley.
Riyad Mahrez almost capitalized on a poorly positioned Liverpool wall in the second minute with a curling free-kick that struck the base of the post.
The elusive Algerian almost punished Liverpool 10 minutes later when he nipped in between Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno to get on the end of Schlupp’s low cross to the back post, but could only curl his shot wide.
The hosts took the lead in the 17th minute when Gerrard converted his first goal from the spot.
Referee Mike Jones’ decision to award the spot-kick was controversial, with Raheem Sterling’s low cross appearing to have struck Wes Morgan in the face rather than on the Leicester captain’s arm.
Gerrard made no mistake and placed a low effort into the bottom-right corner.
It was another of Liverpool’s attackers, Philippe Coutinho, who enabled the hosts to increase their advantage before the interval via another penalty.
The Brazilian schemer tried to lift a cross into the area and the ball clearly struck Danny Simpson on the hand.
Gerrard put his spot-kick into the opposite corner to take his goal tally for the season to seven.
Leicester remarkably got themselves back on level terms with two goals in as many minutes.
The first was brilliantly worked as Vardy, with his back to goal, controlled Matty James’s clever high ball on the edge of the penalty area and teed up Nugent, whose superbly executed strike flew into the top corner.
Liverpool’s defense barely had time to recover their composure before Leicester leveled on the hour mark through Schlupp.
Meanwhile, Gerrard was set to make the shock announcement that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, ending a rollercoaster 25-year association with the English giants.
Reds captain Gerrard’s Anfield future has been the subject of speculation for several months and he is believed to have decided to continue his career overseas when his contract expires.
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