Steven Gerrard already appears a shrewd appointment by Aston Villa and the feelgood factor around this new chapter in his career is tangible.

Gerrard’s start to Premier League management is gathering real momentum and this latest victory, over Brendan Rodgers, moved Villa above Leicester and into the top-ten of the table.

While Leicester’s season is threatening to unravel due to their defensive frailties, Gerrard has made a genuine statement of intent since quitting Rangers for the former European Cup winners last month.

This was the first time Villa this season have won after going behind, and he now has three victories from four matches ahead of his emotional return to Liverpool this weekend.

“Taking nine points from 12 is a big start for us, and I’d have taken that before a ball was kicked, but there’s loads of work still to do,” he said.

“We’ve come in on the back of five successive defeats but the reaction of the players has been excellent across the board. We want to improve the position we’re in and we want to be bold. There are some teething problems but I believe we can still get better.

“Liverpool next week is one for me to deal with in terms of my emotions, and I won’t make it about me. I just need to get the players ready and go there with confidence and belief.”

In front of England manager Gareth Southgate, centre-half Ezri Konsa produced an excellent performance and scored both Villa’s goals, in a breathless, chaotic encounter.

There were other fine displays, from midfielders John McGinn and Marvelous Nakamba and forward Ollie Watkins, and Gerrard has clearly inspired a reaction.

Leicester’s season is threatening to go in another direction. Rodgers has not seen his team secure a clean sheet in the league since the opening day and their inability to defend set-pieces is a huge concern.

They did take the lead through Harvey Barnes but it was a difficult evening for Leicester, who now face a crucial Europa League group decider against Napoli on Thursday night.

Rodgers said: “I’m very frustrated because we played well in the first-half but our Achilles heel is defending at set-pieces. It can sap the confidence out of the team.

“We put a lot of analysis and work into it but you have to do your job. We lose our concentration and Konsa scores the second goal. These are undoing good parts of our game and it’s something we have to fix or the fine margins will go against us.

“Even when we’ve won this season we’ve made [defensive] mistakes. If we can get the solution to do that it will give us that more solidity at the back.”

Leicester did start impressively, with Jamie Vardy dropped to the bench for “squad rotation”, and his replacement Patson Daka provided the assist for the opening goal.

Daka appeared to have lost possession 30 yards from goal but recovered the ball to release Barnes inside the Leicester penalty area.

Barnes took one touch and then side-footed his shot through Konsa’s legs and into the far corner.

Villa had started poorly but equalised 170 seconds later when the visitors failed to clear a Douglas Luiz free-kick. Matty Cash headed the ball back into the danger area and Emi Buendia was left alone to beat Kasper Schmeichel.

Konsa claimed the last touch, brushing the ball over the line with his studs.

The game then became increasingly frantic, with confusion and anger taking hold in added time when Jacob Ramsey appeared to score a second goal for Villa, converting from close range after Schmeichel spilled the ball.

Yet the goal was over-ruled after a Var check, with referee Michael Oliver concluding that Schmeichel was in control of the ball, even though he  had only one hand on it.

With mutiny in the air, Villa were now inspired and did take the lead in the 54th minute when Konsa rose to head in McGinn’s corner at the back-post.

Rodgers introduced Vardy with 25 minutes left, but Villa were still creating chances with Schmeichel producing a fine save from Watkins and Ramsey lifting the ball over from a decent position.

Leicester did respond and Barnes was denied a second goal by an outstanding save from Emiliano Martinez, with the Villa goalkeeper diving to tip the ball over the bar.

Rodgers introduced Vardy with 25 minutes left, but Villa were still creating chances with Schmeichel producing a fine save from Ollie Watkins and Ramsey lifting the ball over from a decent position.

Leicester did respond and Barnes was denied a second goal by an outstanding save from Emiliano Martinez, with the Villa goalkeeper diving to tip the ball over the bar.

With Leicester now dominant, Gerrard made a tactical tweak by opting for five at the back, which ultimately proved a shrewd move.

Five minutes of added time cranked up the tension, with Schmeichel venturing forward for a late corner, but Gerrard’s start at Villa continues to impress.