Boss: What impressed me most about Borini

Rodgers named Borini, who thrived while on loan at Sunderland during 2013-14, in his starting XI for only the second time this campaign as the pair prepared to face their former club in the Capital One Cup.

Swansea struck first at Anfield and with four minutes remaining, the visitors had one eye on the draw for the quarter-finals of the competition before Borini, who had been lively throughout, made a timely intervention.

Driving forward down the Main Stand touchline, he spotted Mario Balotelli surge towards the six-yard box and with a swoosh of his right boot delivered a pin-point pass for his compatriot to tuck away in front of the Kop.

Dejan Lovren ghosted in at the far post in the 95th minute and nodded the winner, meaning the Reds' passage to the next round, where they will face a trip to Championship high-fliers AFC Bournemouth, was secured.

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"I thought Fabio was outstanding against Swansea," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. "His pace, movement and work-rate gave them problems. You really saw his character the other night. He's very determined and he showed that in the game.

"If you've not played for a while and then come back into the side, sometimes you don't want to take any risks. You don't want to make mistakes, you want to be safe, for fear that you might not get another opportunity.

"But that isn't what it's about, especially if you are an attacking player. Playing up there you need to have that mobility. You've got to have that willingness to take risks in the right areas and work your socks off. Fabio did that."

Liverpool controlled the cup tie against Garry Monk's men, despite Rodgers opting to implement nine changes to the team that were held to a 0-0 draw by Steve Bruce's Hull City in the Barclays Premier League.

Philippe Coutinho, who had provided an almost immediate impact against both the Tigers and at Queens Park Rangers in the preceding league fixture, was fielded from the start and he ran the game for Liverpool.

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Lucas Leiva made a fourth start of the current campaign - and Rodgers was delighted with his contribution. The Northern Irishman also singled Kolo Toure and Rickie Lambert out for praise as he reflected on another demonstration of determination from his side.

"In the first half we played as well as we have done all season," said the 41-year-old. "We dominated the game, pressed the ball really well and with a better final ball we would have been in front.

"Swansea started better in the second half and got the goal but we didn't disappoint. Yet again we showed the character in this team to come back against a really good side who won the competition a couple of seasons ago.

"A key point is that we made nine changes for the game. Two years ago when I made those kind of changes against Swansea we were comprehensively beaten because our squad wasn't to the level.

"But this time, playing against a nearly full strength team, we won. It was a real positive result against an established Premier League side.

"I was very happy with what I saw. Borini was excellent, Lucas was very good and Rickie Lambert's not getting his goal at the moment but he's working very hard.

"Big credit to Kolo, who has hardly played at all this season but he's been remarkable in training. His attitude is absolutely exemplary and I thought in the game he was fantastic.

"Across the board it was excellent. It was always going to be a really difficult game for us but there were a number of positives."