EFL Cup

[monks data]

League Cup | Round Four

Oct 28, 2014 at 8pm UK

Liverpool
2-1
Swansea Swansea City

Balotelli (86'), Lovren (94')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Emnes (65')

Mario Balotelli 'overcame injury in warm-up' before League Cup heroics

By Joe Fish, Reporter

Published: October 29 2014 | 09:16

Last updated: October 29 2014 | 13:50

Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe reveals that Mario Balotelli overcame a pre-match injury to inspire the Reds' League Cup comeback against Swansea City.

Mario Balotelli ended his Liverpool goal drought to help them reach the League Cup quarter-finals, despite picking up an injury in the warm-up.

The Italian came off the bench to equalise against Swansea City at Anfield before Dejan Lovren netted a stoppage-time winner to send Liverpool through.

However, Reds assistant manager Colin Pascoe has revealed how Balotelli nearly didn't feature at all.

"He twisted his studs in the ground and he was sent to see the physio to see if he was all right or not," Pascoe told reporters.

"He felt something in his knee, but he came on and his knee looked all right."

The goal was just Balotelli's second in 12 appearances since his £12m move to Merseyside from AC Milan.