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Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool FC winger Lazar Markovic is starting to justify his £20million price tag.

The Serbia international endured a nightmare start to his Reds career with a string of below par performances following his summer move from Benfica.

Markovic has been out of favour in recent months and was sent off after coming on against Basel in the Champions League.

However, he responded with an eye-catching display in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup win over Bournemouth as he scored his first goal for the club with a cool finish.

“He was brilliant,” Rodgers said.

“It has taken him a bit of time to get going and we have talked to him about being more aggressive in his game.

“In the 15 minutes before he got sent off against Basel, it was disappointing that he was sent off, because he started really well. That’s the Markovic that we know.

“Playing in that role (against Bournemouth) he was outstanding. He was defensively good and pressed the ball at almost all of the right times, so tactically he was very good.

“And with the ball his speed and movement was excellent. He has got good quality and is a good footballer. It is pleasing. At 20 years of age, he looks like he is improving all the time.”