The Italian netted his second goal for Liverpool by prodding a cross home from close range as Brendan Rodgers’ men came from behind to beat Swansea in the League Cup

Dejan Lovren admits Mario Balotelli’s goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 League Cup win on Tuesday is “a relief for everyone” at the club.

Liverpool defeated Swansea City 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the competition, coming from behind thanks to late goals from Balotelli and Lovren.

Swansea had looked on track for victory at Anfield after Marvin Emnes gave them the lead but Balotelli equalised with four minutes left before Lovren struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure victory for Liverpool.

It was just Balotelli’s second goal for Liverpool since joining from Milan and Lovren indicated the Italian striker’s scoring drought had been weighing on the Merseyside club.

“I think it’s a relief for everyone but I was sure that Mario would score today or tomorrow so it was just a [matter of] time,” the Croatian defender told Sky Sports.

“Everyone has confidence in Mario, he’s working very hard in training, so it will come with time.”

Lovren added he expects Balotelli to produce a run of goals after getting on the scoresheet in the League Cup: “When you score a goal all the heavy weight that was on your shoulders [is lifted]…and I think now his time will come.”

After Emnes opened the scoring in the 65th minute with a smart volley on the turn, Liverpool hit back in the 86th with Balotelli prodding a right-wing cross home from inside the six-yard box.

Swansea suffered a serious blow when defender Federico Fernandez was controversially sent off in the 92nd minute but Lovren – who scored the winner with a back-post header – said Liverpool deserved to prevail.

“It was a tough game but we showed today our character,” Lovren added. “I think we played better than the last two games and 100 per cent we deserved this win today.”

The defender was sent off late in the game at Anfield as the Reds summoned a late comeback to progress to the fifth round, leaving his manager flummoxed

Swansea City manager Garry Monk is hopeful that “the referee will see some sense” and ensure Federico Fernandez’s red card against Liverpool will be overturned.

The defender was harshly shown a straight red by referee Keith Stroud for a 92nd-minute challenge on Philippe Coutinho before Dejan Lovren netted the winner three minutes later as Liverpool won 2-1 in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup fourth-round tie.

Marvin Emnes’s 65th-minute strike had just been cancelled out by Mario Balotelli and, while Monk was disappointed with his side conceding two late goals, it was Fernandez’s dismissal that left him irate.

“The sending-off clearly isn’t a sending-off at all,” he told Sky Sports. “Hopefully the referee will see some sense and the authorities will rescind that red card because it wasn’t a red card at all.

“It’s an honest challenge. If anything, Coutinho’s feet were higher than ours and actually went in over the top of our player. I don’t quite see how the referee saw that but hopefully he sees sense and rescinds it.”

Monk had been pleased with Swansea’s second-half display before things unravelled.

He added: “[In the] first half Liverpool were the better team – we allowed them too much space and too much control of the game – but at half-time we changed a few things, tweaked it, and were much more in the game second half.

“We played very well, I thought, got a deserved goal and really looked like we were going to hold on for the win but a sloppy goal from our point of view, a few minutes to go, and conceding a goal from a cross like that, it was a little bit too easy so we’re very disappointed with that.”

Colin Pascoe praised the Reds’ attitude after late goals from the Italian and Dejan Lovren sealed a dramatic Cup comeback against Swansea City

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli’s goal against Swansea City was “just rewards” for his hard work, says assistant manager Colin Pascoe.

The Italian has been widely criticised for his performances since joining the Reds from AC Milan this summer but his equaliser seven minutes after coming off the bench prompted a comeback in the League Cup fourth round on Tuesday.

Balotelli had been seen to be sent from the warm-ups before the game but Pascoe revealed that it was over an injury scare that necessitated his starting on the bench.

“He twisted his studs in the ground, that’s all,” Pascoe told the press. “He felt something in his knee but, as you can see, he came on and his knee looked alright.

“Mario is working hard in training and he got his just rewards in getting the goal. He’s a tremendous talent and it was great for him to get the goal.”

“We were unfortunate to be 1-0 down,” Brendan Rodgers’ No.2 added. “The way we played was possibly the best we’ve played all season with the character to keep going and get the win in the end.

“The way we played, we were always likely to create a chance. You’ve got to win your cup ties and get through to the next round. Even if it was late, it’s a great feeling.”

Swansea manager Garry Monk declared himself disappointed with the decision to show Federico Fernandez a late red card and expects the club to appeal, a sentiment with which Pascoe sympathises.

“I can see why they’re not happy, to be honest,” he remarked. “I didn’t think it was a sending-off. It was just unfortunate, they both slipped. It’s unfortunate for Swansea that the lad got sent off.”