The Italy striker equalised for the Reds in the League Cup tie against Swansea at Anfield on Tuesday and the Ivorian defender believes his team-mate will now go on a scoring spree

Kolo Toure expects Liverpool team-mate Mario Balotelli to hit the goal trail after the much-maligned forward ended his drought on Tuesday.

The Italian striker came off the bench to net a late equaliser in Liverpool’s 2-1 League Cup fourth-round win over Swansea City – his first goal in nine games for the Merseyside club.

Balotelli has found the going tough at Anfield since his move from AC Milan in August, scoring just twice in 12 appearances so far.

However, defender Toure believes the 24-year-old’s strike against Swansea could prove a much-needed catalyst for his Reds career.

“For strikers, goals are like food,” the Ivorian, who also played with Balotelli at Manchester City, told the Liverpool Echo.

“Mario needs to feed himself by scoring goals. Now that he has got one, he will do that, definitely.

“Getting that goal will be fantastic for his confidence. He is a great player, he has just been lacking goals.

“Mario is my mate and I’ve tried to help him, like Stevie [Gerrard], the manager [Brendan Rodgers] and everyone else in the dressing room.

“We all know he’s a top player. I always tell him: ‘You need to get out there and show you are one of the best players in the world.’

“He is one of the best. He has just been missing goals but they will come now.”

The England striker says his Anfield team-mate, who has been widely criticised this season, attracts a lot of unfair attention and criticism and “ends up getting stereotyped”

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has defended under-fire team-mate Mario Balotelli, insisting he is “just a regular young guy” and that a lot of people his age have done “crazier things”.

Sturridge has not featured for the Reds since the 3-0 win against Tottenham on August 31 – Balotelli’s debut for the club – due to injury.

The Italian has attracted widespread criticism for his poor form since then, as well as for swapping shirts at half-time of the Champions League clash against Real Madrid, but Sturridge says he gets a lot of unfair criticism and attention.

“Mario is really cool and I get along with him – I enjoy working with him,” he told The Mirror.

“But everyone says similar things about him like he is wild and then he ends up getting stereotyped.

“He is under the microscope and he is at that level where he is known around the world and he does get scrutinised.

“I think the average 24-year-old or guys who go to university who are a little younger will have done a lot crazier things than him.

“Everyone makes mistakes and has flaws – he is just finding his way.”

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.”