Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe believes that Mario Balotelli's goal in the 2-1 win over Swansea City was nothing less than the striker deserved.
The Italy international came off the bench to poke an 86th-minute equaliser past Gerhard Tremmel in tonight's fourth-round League Cup win at Anfield.
It was Balotelli's first goal in eight games and will provide the 24-year-old with a reprieve after coming under fire for his performances during that barren spell.
"Mario is working hard in training and he got his just rewards in getting the goal," Brendan Rodgers's assistant told reporters.
"He's a tremendous talent and it was great for him to get the goal."
Marvin Emnes had fired the Swans into a 65th-minute lead, but goals from Balotelli and Dejan Lovren, either side of Federico Fernandez's red card, sealed the win in regulation.
The Reds now move into the quarter-final of the competition, joining Chelsea, Derby County, Bournemouth and Sheffield United, with three more ties tomorrow.
Shane Callaghan
