Liverpool managed an impressive 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in mid-week, progressing to the Capital One Cup Semi Finals in morale-boosting fashion.

There were the perfect ingredients for an "upset" at Dean Court, the big Premier League side struggling to find form with the underdogs flying in the Championship, sitting pretty at the top. The two sides were at the different ends of the form scale, but you wouldn't have thought it on Wednesday night.

Liverpool dominated the first 45 minutes, and found themselves 2-0 up before the half-hour mark after an excellent team goal ended with Raheem Sterling nodding in from inside the six-yard box before Lazar Markovic added a second just seven minutes later. Brendan Rodgers' side rolled back the months, displaying the swagger and style that saw them come close to triumph in the league last season.

Shortly after the interval, Sterling added a third as he rolled into the bottom corner as the Reds continued to dominate for the first hour. Shortly before the 60 minute mark however, Dan Gosling did well to beat a few defenders on the edge of the Liverpool area and send a shot past Brad Jones but for all their wanting, Eddie Howe's side were made to regret missed chances as the final score, deservedly, ended 3-1 in the visitors' favour. Here are five things we learned from the game:

1. Who better than Raheem?

Raheem Sterling started up-front again on Wednesday, leading to some moans and groans before kick-off. The youngster's overall performance against United in the game prior was pleasing, but he was wasteful. On an afternoon where he could have easily had a hat-trick, he missed chance after chance all from close-range, but he was in better form at the Goldsands Stadium. The 20-year-old showed tremendous adaptability to put in one of his best performances of the season, netting two terrific goals and threatening throughout. He had six shots at goal, one key pass and an accuracy of 91%, in addition to 53 touches. He rose to the occasion to become the first player to notch five goals and five assists for the Reds this season and he is their best hope of any revival. With his contract situation likely to be attracting potential suitors elsewhere, Rodgers will be keen to hand the prospect a blank cheque, because he truly is that good already. Up-front isn't his best position by all means, but Sterling has fitted in well the past two games, adding pace and movement on the shoulder to allow the likes of Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho to pick him out with those through balls they love. Rather than the mobile options of Rickie Lambert or Mario Balotelli, the youngster offers increased adventurousness and energy, which was a pivotal part of why the Reds looked so good against the Cherries. Whilst he lacks some of the attributes of a conventional out-and-out striker, he can certainly fill the gap whilst they eagerly await the return of Daniel Sturridge.

2. Lazar Markovic is adapting.

After showing promising glimpses in recent games with notable mazy runs against Basel and Manchester United, where he should have had an assist but Mario Balotelli's finishing was left wanting, £20 million summer signing Lazar Markovic is now beginning to prove his worth. The Serbian was much-maligned for making little impact early into his Liverpool career, a brief cameo - Manchester City aside, but the 20-year-old looked every part of the vibrant talent they purchased from Benfica in the summer. Finding himself in the peculiar position of left wing-back in an adventurous 3-4-3, Markovic excelled going forward and getting back to put in a stellar performance. Every time he had the ball at his feet, his speed, control and vision had the Championship opposition panicking and he played a huge role in the fantastic first goal. In a sensational 51-pass build-up, it was his cross to the back post that Jordan Henderson nodded back to Raheem Sterling for the opening goal. He crowned off the performance with a well executed finish for the second goal just seven minutes later, wrapping his foot around effort to bend it right into the bottom corner. Defensively, he was surprisingly effective too. He made more tackles than any other player on the pitch, with six, whilst his three interceptions were bettered only by Jordan Henderson for the away side. In a season in which they are becoming increasingly reliant on the same few players, namely Raheem Sterling - it is the perfect time for Markovic to come to the fore, and he must surely have played himself into the starting line-up at home to Arsenal on Sunday.

3. Sense of surprise as confidence returns.

A cold Wednesday night down at the South Coast in the cup nowadays judged as largely insignicant, it came as a shock to see Liverpool put in one of their best performances so far this season. After a run of disappointing results, including their elimination from the Champions League and a loss at the hands of Manchester United, the Reds abandoned their hoodoos and found the expansive, dominant passing style-of-play that brought results. With the pre-match build-up centered around the fact that the Reds had three defenders and seven midfielders on the pitch, they were written off before the game began - but how wrong some people were. For the first 50 minutes, Liverpool executed the game plan in perfect fashion. Patiently biding their time, Bournemouth were chasing the Reds' shadows as they played the ball across a controlling midfield and a comfortable defence with confidence. In the final third, things looked more fluid and costless-flowing rather than how Liverpool have had to force the issue so desperately in recent weeks. It all looked natural again, and Brendan Rodgers must receive huge credit. It was the bold and brave decision that the fans have been crying out for. Rodgers looked to have lost the sense of swashbuckling tactical bravery that saw his side so triumphantly dispose of most of their opponents last season - but the gamble to switch to such a full-frontal set-up certainly paid off. Gone was the slow, tedious build-up play that made the Reds such a bore to look only a week or so ago and the quick passing, movement and tantalising attacking play was back. Moving the ball at pace with great movement, slick passing and being clinical in final third was the Liverpool of old last night. Whether it can be kept up remains to be seen, but if Rodgers can ensure he sees his side perform like this more often this season, the results are bound to come in tandem. 

4. The defence is still a concern.

Though, for all the positives and praises of the 3-4-3, there was very much a post-match feeling that it didn't offer much defensive protection. On three or four occasions, Liverpool were lucky to see the home side waste valuable opportunities just as they had themselves three days prior at Old Trafford. The result could have been vastly different and in the final half-an-hour, Liverpool's frailties at the back really showed. In the second half, under increased pressure, the new-look defence with Mamadou Sakho returning to replace the injured Dejan Lovren at half-time, looked shaky. But that's nothing new. In between the sticks is currently the most concerning position. Rodgers has recently stated that he has taken first-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet out of the firing line for an "indefinite" period but Brad Jones, his solid but no so spectacular, replacement has hardly filled the defence with confidence. After a weak display at Old Trafford, he was poor when faced with Dan Gosling's effort. A shot that really should have been saved, and would have by a keeper of a better standard, he instead squandered a confidence boosting clean sheet by letting it through his grasp and into the back of the net. Mignolet hasn't been good enough all season but Jones has yet to convince anyone that he's any better, so what is the answer? Does Rodgers have the boldness to hand a youth goalkeeper, such as Danny Ward or Ryan Fulton, the step-up? Or does he bide his time until the January transfer market and look for fresh options then? Elsewhere, meanwhile - it is clear that Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel, Kolo Toure, and later Mamadou Sakho all have their individual faults and the defence shows little chance of improving. A better side would have punished the Reds, as United did on the weekend, and they cannot afford a replica defensive performance on Sunday.

5. The Capital One Cup matters to Liverpool.

Whilst the modern footballing club chooses to prioritise finances (such as those offered out with UEFA Champions League participation), the lack of lust for the less lucrative cup competitions means the Capital One Cup is often one which sees the top sides offer their youngsters a chance to shine. But this season, it now offers Liverpool, who have won a record eight league cups, the perfect opportunity to help arrest their domestic slump. At the start of the season, the Northern Irishman in charge insisted that, into his third season at the helm, he wanted to win some silverware. He's stuck to his word, fielding out consistently strong line-ups in each round of the competition, as Steven Gerrard played just short of the full 90 minutes away at Bournemouth. It's clear for all to see that the cup offers a real chance for Brendan Rodgers to quieten his increasing bunch of critics. The Semi Final draw, which revealed they face Chelsea in the next round, may have been somewhat of a body blow. They are the best team in the league right now, despite having lost away at Newcastle United recently, and it will be a daunting task to face the Premier League favourites. But, Liverpool seem to have a knack of performing against Chelsea in Semi Finals - and they'll fancy their chances of getting to beat them over 180 minutes, not just 90. That would certainly help his reputation around Anfield, with one of Tottenham or Sheffield United the other side to reach Wembley, the Reds would be confident of picking up a record ninth win in the competition. The Capital One Cup offers a real chance for Rodgers to maintain some credibility. Whilst Kenny Dalglish's League Cup success counted for little in the eyes of FSG, the club's owners, the supporters would love nothing more than another day out in the English capital - especially if it ended in victory. Whilst it's a little early to think about the final, there's no reason to write off Liverpool over two legs against Jose Mourinho's side.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.