Brendan Rodgers introduced Mario Balotelli at half-time at Selhurst Park on Saturday in order to provide a focal point for his team and to allow Daniel Sturridge freedom to prowl across the frontline.

The Northern Irishman began Liverpool's FA Cup fifth round clash against Crystal Palace by fielding a familiar 3-4-3 formation which has helped his side flourish over the last two months.

With Sturridge leading the line, flanked by Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana, Rodgers' outfit had plenty of potency but they were constantly thwarted by an impenetrable wall of blue and red shirts.

Early frustrations were compounded when Fraizer Campbell fired Palace ahead - and at the interval, Rodgers knew he had to switch things in order to instigate a fresh approach and keep the Reds' cup quest alive.

"They had obviously set up to defend against our midfield box and I felt that we needed to take one out of there and then play with three [in midfield]," Rodgers told Liverpoolfc.com from the tunnel following the final whistle.

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"We moved Joe Allen to a controlling role, played with two advanced players and then that gave us the freedom to put another striker in up at the top.

"Daniel moves around the line and in behind it. So I felt we needed a more static central striker to be there because we had a lot of crosses into the box. I thought Mario came on and did really well."

Balotelli entered the clash in place of Lazar Markovic and the space Rodgers references above soon started to open up for Sturridge, who drifted wide of the goal in order to receive Jordan Henderson's pass and level the scores.

Then, within 13 minutes of the restart, Liverpool grabbed the decisive goal of the game as Balotelli hammered a free-kick low at Julian Speroni, who spilled into the path of Lallana and he converted from close range.

"I thought it was an outstanding win," said Rodgers. "[Selhurst Park] is a very tough place to come to, as we saw earlier on this season. I thought we were deserving of the victory.

"We had to show character to come back in the second half, but we created enough chances to score more than two goals. Eventually we got there, which was important."

He added: "You see the form that the team has been in. To play how we have been and to get the wins with that performance level, you need to have persistence and character.

"We went behind here, during the week we were pegged back twice [by Tottenham Hotspur], but we had that resilience and that fitness level to keep going and pushing."

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