Hello and welcome to TheScore.ie’s live coverage of this afternoon’s Premier League game between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield.

The team sheets are in and the big news is that Steven Gerrard has returned to the side after being rested for Monday’s win over Swansea. There is, however, no place in the squad for Mario Balotelli despite a late cameo against the Swans.

Leicester, although rooted to the bottom of the table, arrive at Anfield buoyed by their win at Hull on Sunday. They are without Kasper Schmeichel and former Red Paul Konchesky, who is suspended.

Leonardo Ulloa, who has scored seven goals this term, has to settle for a place on the bench alongside Esteban Cambiasso.

Brendan Rodgers has recalled Kolo Toure in place of the suspended Martin Skrtel while it seems Jordan Henderson will operate on the right with Gerrard returning to his central midfield berth.

Thanks to my colleague Ryan Bailey for updating you on the team news as I unwittingly took an extended lunch break. Back now though and ready to rock. 30 minutes until kick-off.

In the early game Manchester United have been held to a 1-1 draw away to Stoke.

So Steven Gerrard returns to the Liverpool team and Mario Balotelli is dropped from the squad completely. An interesting decision from Brendan Rodgers, that. You have to imagine that he’s beginning to lose all faith in Balotelli.

The teams are out on the pitch, nearly there now! Going to stick my neck out and go for a prediction of 3-0 Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard has been given permission to speak to other clubs when his contract runs out in the summer. Liverpool fans, do you think the club should do everything possible to keep him or is it time he moved on?

Here we go, we’re underway at Anfield with Liverpool playing towards the Anfield Road end. Notably, Mario Balotelli did arrive with the team today meaning he’s fit.

Very close for Leicester! An early free-kick from the left saw everyone expecting a cross into the box but Mahrez deceived everyone and shot. His effort caught Mignolet out at his near post but it was that post that saved the Belgian as the ball crashed off it.

We have a bit of a delay here as Kolo Toure is down receiving treatment. This looks like it could be the end of the game for the Ivorian.

Coutinho beautifully delivers a ball in behind the Leicester defence onto the chest of Henderson but the English midfielder is marginally offside.

It’s been a very bright start from Leicester. They’re getting into Liverpool quickly and not giving them a second on the ball. Liverpool are beginning to settle it down a bit in the last few minutes but nothing created yet.

Another wonderful chance for Leicester! Schlupp busies himself down the left wing and manages to get a low cross into the feet of Mahrez but it was slightly behind the Algerian and he couldn’t open his body enough to get his effort on target.

Penalty for Liverpool!

The referee has made a howler here. Coutinho played Sterling in on the left. The winger tried to cross into the box but the ball hit Wes Morgan’s face as he slid. Mike Jones ruled it as a handball however.

Gerrard dispatches the penalty with ease — low and to the right.

Looking back at the penalty it’s a shocking decision. Morgan slid in to block the cross but the wet pitch caused him to slide slightly past Sterling and the ball hit him right in the face.

Mike Jones will not want to look back on this one. It’s so disheartening for Leicester as they had started the game so well and looked to be the better team.

Lucas is shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Mahrez. Free-kick 25 yards out for Leicester.

Mahrez’s effort clips the wall and spins over the bar.

Even worse news for The Foxes is that QPR have gone 1-0 up against Swansea as they look for some precious points in the relegation battle.

Moreno rifles a cross in from the left but Lallana’s header flies over the bar.

Mahrez has looked very dangerous for Leicester so far on the left wing. He’s running at Moreno every time he gets the ball and has beaten him a few times.

A great first touch from Moreno on the left allows him to cut inside and feed Lallana on the edge of the box. His touch was a bit on the poor side meaning he had to dig the shot out slightly but it just skidded by the post with Hamer well beaten.

Here is that penalty decision that went Liverpool’s way. As you can see it clearly hits Morgan in the face.

It looks like Dave Nugent is readying himself on the Leicester bench. Danny Drinkwater seems to have an injury problem.

Wasilewski catches Sterling in the Leicester half and is given a flash of Mike Jones’ yellow card. Nugent has replaced Drinkwater.

Gerrard swings in a dipping free-kick that causes trouble in the Leicester box. It eventually bobbles into the hands of Hamer and Leicester get away with it.

Another penalty for Liverpool! And it’s for another handball!

Gerrard dispatches yet again.

Mike Jones looks to have made the right decision for this penalty. Coutinho went to knock it by Danny Simpson and the ball jumped up and hit his hand. Coutinho was quite close to Simpson when he kicked it but the American’s hand was out away from his body.

Somehow I managed not to include the vine in my last post about the penalty given against Wes Morgan. It’s there now so you can have a look and see just how unjust it was.

We’ve entered three additional minutes at the end of this first half.

Wow! Almost a spectacular third goal for Liverpool! Gerrard pinged a corner right onto the foot of Henderson at the edge of the box, allowing him to volley first time but it just flew wide. Think Paul Scholes against Bradford, except it didn’t go in.

The referee blows for the break. It’s been an eventful first half.

It’s half-time around the grounds in the Premier League. Here are the latest scores:

• Aston Villa 0-0 Crystal Palace
• Hull 2-0 Everton
• Liverpool 2-0 Leicester
• Man City 0-0 Sunderland
• Newcastle 2-1 Burnley
• QPR 1-0 Swansea
• Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
• West Ham 1-1 West Brom

We’re back underway at Anfield. You fear a bit for Leicester in this half with Liverpool already 2-0 up.

Straight from the kick-off Liverpool run at the Leicester defence leading to Moreno getting in behind but he fires over.

Not too much happening in the second half so far. Both sides have had shots fly way over the bar but, apart from that, nowt.

Vardy beautifully takes down a long ball and beats Toure on the edge of the box but Sakho got across to cover before the striker could get his shot away.

fabio Borini has replaced Lallana for Liverpool. Looks to be a knee injury.

Wes Morgan had a few things to say to the officials at half-time.

Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

Leicester fans, I’m sorry to compound your misery but, your next six games are against six of the teams that finished in the top seven last season. Gulp.

Leicester have pulled one back!

It’s a beautiful goal for Leicester. A looped ball is played to Vardy on the edge of the Liverpool box. With his back to goal he cushions it down allowing Nugent to volley past Mignolet into the bottom corner.

Unbelievable! It’s 2-2!

This is incredible. Two minutes of madness have seen Liverpool go from having the game in the bag to being on the back foot. Schlupp picked the ball up 25 yards from goal, advanced to the edge of the box and rifled a left footed strike into the bottom corner.

A few deep breaths and a glass of water is well and truly needed after those few minutes. Incredible stuff but it’s no less than Leicester deserve — they were harshly done by with the first penalty and they’ve continued to attack Liverpool for the whole game.

A long range effort from Lucas is smothered by Hamer. Liverpool look a bit rattled since the second goal.

Here is that Dave Nugent goal. Beautifully executed.

This has been a good game. It’s now turned into a great game; the majestic Esteban Cambiasso has entered the fray in place of Dave Hammond.

So much for my prediction of 3-0 to Liverpool…

Lazar Markovic has replaced Lucas for Liverpool.

Dave Nugent has the eye for goal today. His latest effort was flying in but Sakho managed to block. The Liverpool defender has been impressive today.

Ulloa has replaced Vardy who was excellent today. His link up play with Nugent for Leicester’s first goal was superb.

Henderson manages to get to the byline on the right wing and drag it back towards Borini eight yards out but his effort is blocked by Markovic a few yards out. Great chance for Liverpool.

Coutinho twists, tricks, turns, slips and slides on the edge of the box before shooting at goal but his effort is straight at Hamer.

There’s a ding dong battle going on over at St James’ Park it seems, Newcastle have just gone 3-2 ahead against Burnley.

Sterling jinks down the left, cuts inside past Simpson, ignores everyone in the box and shoots but his effort is tame and doesn’t trouble Hamer.

Liverpool are really pushing now. This time Coutinho cuts inside and fires one at goal but it hits his own man, yet again!

A superb whipped corner into the box from Mahrez causes havoc in Mignolet’s area. It eventually drops to Wasilewski 10 yards out but his effort is blocked on the line.

Rickie Lambert has replaced Moreno as Liverpool look for a winner.

The latest Liverpool chance falls to Henderson who’s poor touch takes him away from goal and Hamer is able to parry his effort wide. The corner comes to nothing.

Huge appeals for a Liverpool penalty! Morgan at the centre of it again as he brings down Borini in the box. Borini certainly went to ground easily but there did look to be contact.

Sterling chips into the middle from the left, Markovic tries to guide a header into the top corner but it’s wide. It’s frantic at Anfield!

A chance for Leicester now as the clock ticks into added time. Nugent got in behind on the left but the angle was tight and he could only volley at Mignolet. Mahrez is lining up a free kick from 25 yards for the visitors…

…straight into the wall and cleared.

Sterling dinks another one into a dangerous area. Lambert was coming onto it and looked to have a fre header but the one, the only Esteban Matías Cambiasso Deleau flicked it away at the last minute.

That’s it, it’s finished 2-2.

It’s a brilliant point for Leicester but it’s three that Liverpool threw away. Nothing should be taken away from the visitors however as they were superb in the second half. A much needed point in their battle against the drop and one that will stand to them come May.