Raheem Sterling hits brace as Liverpool sink Bournemouth

Raheem Sterling ended his own personal goal drought as Liverpool eased some pressure on boss Brendan Rodgers with a 3-1 win at Bournemouth to reach the last four of the League Cup.

The 20-year-old forward missed a host of chances in the Reds' heavy loss at Manchester United at the weekend, but responded in the right way when he nodded home the opener from close range to snare his first in 18 matches.

The visitors were playing with some real attacking verve and doubled their lead on 27 minutes when Lazar Markovic fired his maiden goal for the club from the edge of the box after Artur Boruc had parried Philippe Coutinho's attempt into his path.

Sterling then wrapped up victory after the interval with a lightning run and finish following some incisive passing from Kolo Toure and Adam Lallana.

On another day it could have been a very different story, however, as Eddie Howe's side blew some big chances at key moments in the game. The first came with the contest still goalless and saw Callum Wilson side foot wide after some twinkling feet had freed him in the area. And the second arrived just a moment after Markovic's goal with Yann Kermogant blazing over the bar from eight yards out.

The Cherries did pull one back when Dan Gosling fired a shot through Brad Jones from just inside the area and the former Everton man was unlucky not to set up a barnstorming finale when his curler crashed back off the post.

PRE-MATCH: No strikers and a back three for the Reds. Rodgers opts to deploy a fluid attack with no recognised striker similar to the loss at Man United. The Reds boss makes three changes from that defeat with Lazar Markovic - operating at left-wing back - Lucas Leiva and Kolo Toure coming in. Toure will join Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren in a back three. Meanwhile, Bournemouth make six changes from side that beat Cardiff at the weekend. Former Everton midfielder, Dan Gosling, who once scored an FA Cup winner against Liverpool, is involved from the start.

4' - BOURNEMOUTH CHANCE! Yann Kermogant chests Gosling's clipped pass down for Callum Wilson who shows great feet to move clear in the area, but he blows his big moment by slotting wide with the goal at his mercy. Let off for the visitors.

5' - FINE SAVE! Boruc flings himself to his right to tip over Lallana's fizzing 20-yard drive.

20' - GOAL!Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool. Sterling nods home from close range after Jordan Henderson had headed Markovic's clipped cross back across the six-yard box.

27' - GOAL!Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool. Markovic fires home his first goal for Liverpool from the edge of the area after Coutinho's low shot was beaten into his path by Boruc. Bournemouth seemed to stop in the lead up to that goal, perhaps thinking it was offside.

28'' - WHAT A MISS! Kermogant blazes over the top from eight yards out after a cut back from the right left Liverpool all at sea at the back. He should have scored.

51' - GOAL!Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool. Surely that's the match. Toure and Lallana combine to send Sterling free and he makes no mistake by slaloming into the area and firing into the bottom corner.

57' - GOAL! Bournemouth 1-3 Liverpool. Bournemouth get one back. Matt Ritchie rampages free down the right and cuts it back for Gosling who dummies well before lashing a shot through Jones. The keeper got a lot on that but couldn't keep it out.

66' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! The hat-trick goes begging on this occasion as Sterling fires wide of the near post after a delightful back heel from Lallana had set the forward up.

69' - OFF THE POST! Gosling tries his luck from the edge of the box and sees his curling attempt cannon back off the post with Jones rooted to the spot.

Liverpool have scored in 15 of their last 16 League Cup quarter-final matches (including replays).

Liverpool have scored in all but two of the last 52 League Cup games – a sequence going back to 1998.

Raheem Sterling scored his first headed goal for Liverpool.

The Reds have kept just one away clean sheet in 12 games this campaign.

Brad Jones has only kept one clean sheet in eight League Cup appearance, including none in five for Liverpool.

Liverpool are unbeaten in six meetings with Bournemouth.

Bournemouth lose for the first time in 13 matches.

Liverpool have reached the semi finals of the League Cup for the 15th time - a record shared with Spurs.

Will this be the turning point Brendan Rodgers needs? Liverpool desperately needed a result after a Champions League elimination was followed by a mauling against arch rivals Manchester United at the weekend. A shock cup exit would have had the doubters sharpening their knives, but this victory and the manner of the display gives them real hope heading into the festive period; beginning with Sunday's Anfield clash with Arsenal.

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool): Two goals and an attacking performance full of pace and flair that will do his confidence the world of good.

Bournemouth: Boruc 6, Francis 7, Elphick 6, Cargill 6, Smith 6, Ritchie 7, O'Kane 6, Gosling 7, Stanislas 6, Kermorgant 5, Wilson 6. Subs: Arter 6, Fraser 7, Pitman 5.

Liverpool: Jones 5, Toure 7, Skrtel 7, Lovren 6, Henderson 7, Gerrard 6, Coutinho 7, Lallana 8, Lucas 6, Sterling 9, Markovic 8. Subs: Sakho 6, Can 6, Borini n/a.