Two goals in the final ten minutes handed Liverpool a dramatic 2-1 victory over Swansea City tonight as Brendan Rodgers's side progressed to the quarter-finals of the League Cup in dramatic circumstances.
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The Reds began on the front foot and Rickie Lambert flashed a low centre across the face of goal before Fabio Borini failed to make contact with an attempt after a cross from the right wing.
Then Lucas made a rare foray forward before driving a weak, low effort into the hands of Gerhard Tremmel.
Coutinho revelled in a deeper role, but after some delightful approach play the Brazilian dragged a 25-yard shot wide of the far post.
The 22-year-old was involved once more in an incisive breakaway, but when the ball fell at the feet of Lazar Markovic, the young Serbian horribly sliced his effort into the crowd.
On a rare start for the home side, Borini looked determined to make an impact and curled a left-footed effort inches wide before forcing Tremmel into a strong save at his near post.
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A few minutes before the break, Nathan Dyer had Swansea's first real chance of the half, but his 20-yard shot was deflected narrowly wide off Glen Johnson.
Swansea began to grow into the game as half time approached and Brad Jones had to be alert to push away Jonjo Shelvey's low free kick in the 44th minute.
Coutinho continued to be a menace in the second period and bent an effort into the hands of Tremmel before curling another effort over the bar, but with 25 minutes remaining Anfield was stunned into silence.
Neil Taylor beat Borini to a loose ball and as it dropped out of the sky, Marvin Emnes swivelled and smashed a thumping volley into the far corner of the net.
Emnes - who had earlier headed at Jones from a corner - had yet another chance soon after his goal, but his deflected strike looped into the hands of Jones as Liverpool continued to live dangerously.
Nonetheless, the home side came straight back at the visitors and Johnson forced Tremmel to parry away a long-range strike and Taylor scrambled the loose ball clear before an attempt from the subsequent corner was blocked on the line.
Lambert and Coutinho then forced Tremmel into further saves, but all of Liverpool's attempts came from outside the area as Swansea defended deep and in numbers.
However, their resolve was finally broken four minutes from time as substitute Mario Balotelli stabbed the ball home with just his second touch after being introduced.
Swansea then began to fall apart as Federico Fernandez was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Coutinho in stoppage time and Liverpool completed the turnaround with virtually the last kick of the game as Dejan Lovren headed home in front of the Kop with Tremmel caught in no-man's land.
Kristian Johnson
