Leicester City vs Liverpool: Five things we learnt from the Reds' comfortable win over Nigel Pearson's men

Leicester City 1-3 Liverpool

Liverpool need to get Steven Gerrard’s contract tied up quick

While this was hardly a sparkling display from the former England captain, Steven Gerrard proved once more that Liverpool would plunge to new depths without him. Winning the fascinating midfield duel with fellow Champions League winner Esteban Cambiasso, the 34-year-old neatly wove his side’s play together.

Delivering the free-kick which eventually led to Adam Lallana’s thunderous equaliser, Brendan Rodgers must get him to sign on the dotted line sooner rather than later. With his tidy goal handing him yet another bargaining chip in the ongoing contract talks, surely it’s time for Liverpool to do some business.

Esteban Cambiasso is ready for the relegation scrap

Do you remember the surprise when those whispers of Esteban Cambiasso joining newly-promoted Leicester City came true? Surely a player of his calibre, irrespective of age, could have secured a more high-profile - and indeed more lucrative - switch elsewhere? The lure of the Premier League, though, proved too great and now his Tuesday evenings are spent losing football matches in the cold East Midlands breeze.

You would almost forgive the Argentine legend for feeling sorry for himself. The reality, however, is that Cambiasso is up for the fight. Putting in another combative and astute display in the middle of the park, despite missing an open goal in the first half, he could be the difference for the Foxes this year.

Nigel Pearson’s men remain a Premier League enigma

With dashes of the quality desperately required to survive on show tonight, King Power Stadium regulars must be increasingly frustrated with their side’s stuttering form. Jamie Vardy, in particular, has the skill-set to cause any top flight defence problems while Leo Ulloa is beginning to look like his predatory self again.

Defensively, though, City continue to look a mess. Kasper Schmeichel may well be a decent shot-stopper but he will need to establish a greater command of his area if the Foxes are to add to their two clean sheets of the season. One of those, it’s worth considering, came with Ben Hamer in the net. Maybe they'll benefit from losing the occasionally shaky Wes Morgan to suspension.

The top four still looks beyond Liverpool

A whole heap of mud has been slung in Rodgers’ general direction this season after splurging the Luis Suarez money on the likes of Adam Lallana and company. With old foes Manchester United finally finding form under Louis van Gaal, this victory will do wonders to reassure nervous Kopites.

While the visitors did eventually put Leicester to the sword, the manner in which they did so seemed almost polite by last season’s standards. Had Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez graced the pitch tonight, it could have been embarrassing for Leicester.

Pearson is safe – for now

Any manager who watches his side go 503 minutes without a goal is going to feel under a certain degree of pressure, but save a thought for Pearson. While Leicester’s post-Manchester United slump has been nothing short of catastrophic, collecting just two points in nine matches, the former Hull City boss has lifted both the League One and Championship titles in the East Midlands.

Tony Pulis may be sat up in bed tonight, with his Leicester City cap on standby, but don’t expect the King Power hierarchy to give him a call just yet.