Brendan Rodgers: Mario Balotelli has seen the light

Brendan Rodgers has a new player in his Liverpool team – and his name is Mario Balotelli.

The £16m forward came on at half-time to lift the Reds to a 2-1 FA Cup Fifth Round triumph at Crystal Palace.

Amazingly, given his early season form, the controversial Italian has suddenly turned from an ugly duckling into a swooping, swan-like figure who could prove the perfect foil to Daniel Sturridge as the Reds continue their race towards Wembley.

Rodgers switched to two men up front in pairing Ballotelli alongside Sturridge and the system worked a treat with two goals in nine minutes from Sturridge and then Adam Lallana, with Balotelli's stunning free-kick surprising Palace keeper Julian Speroni and setting up the winner 

Said a delighted Rodgers: “Mario's training well and starting to really work and focus on his job. He came on and did really well – there was good power on the free-kick and it was a great strike.

"It was difficult when he first arrived because we play with a style and intensity that he's not used to, but the penny has dropped now and he is a player of high quality."

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers

Balotelli's contribution followed a winning goal against Tottenham in midweek and Palace manager Alan Pardew, whose 1990 Semi-Final goal against Liverpool took the Eagles to their only Cup Final, conceded that Rodgers might finally have a player worth the fee.

"I thought there were maybe a couple of penalty incidents surrounding Balotelli, but that's him," he said. "He had an influence on the game because he's a good technical player.

"It was a great hit for the free-kick and he made some nice moments. Brendan is searching for Mario to truly arrive – he's not arrived yet like he was at Manchester City but he can come on and do very well."

Added Rodgers: “You can the see confidence and composure in the team. We’ve had a great week. 

"The players turned this game around. We were more aggressive in second half, shortened the pitch and kept the ball, and I thought it would only be a matter of time.

"The two goals were very good in different ways. Daniel is working his way back, extending his game time, and we’ve got to do that. 

"You can see his qualities, speed and touch, and he doesn't miss too many chances – and should have had a penalty.

"Him coming back gives us a great boost for the rest of the season."

Pardew thought scoring the first goal was Palace's downfall. 

"That early goal made us negative and we sat back too much," he said. 

"Their first goal was great – great pass, great finish. But Dwight Gayle was one-on-one and if he’d put that in we would have had a great chance.

"We needed to engage their two strikers better. We gave them too much grip on the game. 

"We only had control for minimum periods. It could easily have been a draw and this was an opportunity missed.

"We're out of The FA Cup and now the League will be really tough. Villa and QPR have new managers and it will energise them. 

"With the ball we gave one of our worst performances and we need to improve on that."