Liverpool Lucky to Scrape Past Swansea as Rodgers Persists with 4-2-3-1

LIVERPOOL, England—Liverpool beat a Premier League side in the League Cup at Anfield for the first time since 2006, but they certainly didn’t look like doing so for long periods of the second half.

Late goals from Mario Balotelli and Dejan Lovren got Brendan Rodgers’ side out of jail just as Swansea looked comfortable following Marvin Emnes’ well-taken volley earlier in the second period.

Balotelli finished from Fabio Borini’s cross with five minutes remaining before Lovren headed home in stoppage time after Gerhard Tremmel misjudged a free-kick.

The sense of relief around Anfield was palpable, and Philippe Coutinho—by far Liverpool's best player on the night—almost made it three before full-time.

4-2-3-1

As the team sheets were handed out at Anfield, supporters wondered (hoped) that the sight of Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert both in the side would mean a return to a front two.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Instead, it was a continuation of the 4-2-3-1 shape which has seen Liverpool struggle in recent weeks. Lazar Markovic, who was again well under par, started on the left of the attacking three midfielders, Coutinho was central and Borini out on the right.

Admittedly, the first half saw the three of them interchange well with Coutinho at the heart of all things good, looking to make things happen and creating chances for himself and others.

Liverpool couldn't find the breakthrough and Swansea improved after the break, which saw the home side struggle for chances. After a brighter first 45, the second was back to how the Reds were against Hull City on Saturday—as they ticked past 250 minutes without a goal at Anfield.

Adam Lallana and Balotelli entered the fray later on but were like-for-like changes.

Lambert left the pitch having barely had a goalscoring chance, still searching for his first goal for the club after 10 appearances (admittedly only three from the start).

Diamond Shape

Recent games have shown how Balotelli looks better with a strike partner alongside him; his debut against Tottenham alongside Daniel Sturridge and the only time he's had a partner since—the final half an hour against Hull—have seen his best displays.

Jon Super/Associated Press

After that encouraging final half hour against Hull, fans were eager to see Balotelli and Lambert alongside each other again; playing one of them doesn't appear to be working to their strengths.

Ben Twelves wrote after the QPR escape for This Is Anfield:

"

What Liverpool have proven to be good at, is playing with a compact diamond shaped midfield and two forwards but the Liverpool boss is yet to revert to what works best, choosing to stick with a formation that doesn’t suit any of his key players.

"

Indeed, playing the two forwards alongside each other, and also playing Raheem Sterling in the No. 10 role, will get the best from all of Liverpool's three attacking players.

Result

Rodgers will be happy to have scraped through against his former side and hopefully the momentum gained from this result will be just what Liverpool need. They face Newcastle away on Saturday before a trip to Real Madrid next week in the Champions League.

A mixed night at Anfield, ultimately there are plenty of positives from the manner of the late win, but for a time it looked like the persistence with 4-2-3-1 was going to be Liverpool's undoing again.