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– Okazaki stabs in –
Instead the visitors went further ahead from Coutinho’s free-kick, the Brazilian curling his effort brilliantly over the wall and past the despairing dive of Schmeichel in the 23rd minute.
The half ended as it had started with a flurry of chances at both ends.
Leicester looked like they had pulled a goal back shortly before half-time as Okazaki squeezed the ball past Mignolet, only to see it ruled out by an errant offside flag.
Liverpool were inches away from extending their lead still further when Coutinho came agonisingly close to getting a decisive touch on Roberto Firmino’s driven cross.
Amid the half’s dying embers, Mignolet produced a fantastic one-handed save to push Vardy’s header over the bar.
But the Liverpool goalkeeper’s inability to claim to ensuing corner, amid suspicions of a foul by Okazaki, allowed the Japanese striker to stab home and give the Foxes a lifeline.
Liverpool came close to restoring their two-goal cushion soon after the restart as a dangerous attack ended with Coutinho driving a shot into the grateful arms of Schmeichel.
The visitors continued to press, Firmino ballooning a header over from close range.
Liverpool finally got a third from a devastating counter-attack that saw substitute Daniel Sturridge feed Henderson, who cut inside before wrong-footing Schmeichel.
The two-goal advantage only lasted one minute as Mignolet parried Demarai Gray’s shot into the path of Vardy, who headed home from beneath the crossbar.
Leicester could have drawn level after Vardy raced into the box and was clattered by Mignolet, who also managed to graze the ball.
Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot, but decided the challenge only warranted a yellow card.
Mignolet made the most of his reprieve by guessing correctly to deny Vardy from 12 yards and stop the Leicester striker scoring a third penalty in successive matches.
