Rodgers: Why Tuesday bodes well for us
Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool can draw on the positive experience of emerging triumphant from one of the most incredible penalty shootouts in modern history as they aim to kick-start their Barclays Premier League campaign.
After being held to a 2-2 draw by Championship outfit Middlesbrough following 120 minutes of football at Anfield, spot kicks were required to determine which team would be taking their place in round four of the Capital One Cup.
What ensued was nothing short of remarkable as 30 penalties were taken by 11 players, including goalkeepers. The Kop saw 27 of them successfully converted before Albert Adomah struck wide to book Liverpool's place in the draw.
Thoughts immediately turned to the prospect of Everton's visit to Anfield on Saturday lunchtime and the chance to get a league season that has suffered three defeats back on course, with Rodgers confident his players will be buoyed by Tuesday's result.
"There are so many games and you just want to win each one," he told Liverpoolfc.com immediately after the win over Boro.
"The objective against Middlesbrough was to get through to the next round - and we got there. It was a long night for us, but we got there in the end.
"That positive experience will help us, but now we need to get ready as we have a massive game at the weekend and we need to get our league campaign underway."
Rodgers acknowledged his disappointment at the game reaching a shootout, particularly as Liverpool had been leading 2-1 with just seconds remaining of extra-time.
Still, the manager was delighted by the composure of his players, given just one kick out of their 15 attempts was not converted.
"We showed great quality in our penalties, so hopefully that will bode well for us in the future if at any time we need it and we are in that situation," said Rodgers.
"Of course, you're hoping the 'keeper makes a save or somebody misses, but it was more the quality from the two sets of players.
"After extra-time and 120 minutes of football, and you go into that situation, to get through and have had 30 penalties just shows the concentration and the technique of the players.
"My players showed great composure and I was very happy to get through."