Steven Gerrard will make an immediate return to the Liverpool starting line-up as 2015 kicks off with a home fixture against Leicester City this afternoon.

The captain sat out Monday's comprehensive 4-1 victory over Swansea City after helping the Reds secure a 1-0 win at a determined Burnley on Boxing Day.

But Brendan Rodgers confirmed ahead of the New Year's Day contest that the talismanic No.8 will be restored from the start for the assignment against the Foxes.

"Steven will come straight back in," said the Northern Irishman. "He's a wonderful player and servant to this football club, and he's been brilliant for me in my time here.

"I've just got to manage his games. When I came here two-and-a-half years ago, everyone talked about whether he could play in my type of football. He was arguably the player of the year last year.

"I'm just managing his game time and he understands my situation of picking the team and making it fresh as often as we possibly can. He missed out the other night but he'll play."

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