'Pool keep their feet on ground

The victory, which made it 17 goals scored and just two conceded in five home matches which have brought 12 points, moved the Reds back up to seventh in the Premier League table but still nine points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham having played one match more.

However, Rodgers, conscious that his positive outlook is often used as a negative against him, admits there is plenty of work still to do in the remaining 11 matches.

"I am an optimist, you have to be, but we'll not get too carried away," he said.

"I've likened us to a marathon runner just getting ready for the finish line, ready to make our move, and then we trip ourselves up.

"That is something we have to change going forward for the remainder of the season and finish as strong as we can."

The slip-ups came earlier in the week as having lost 2-0 to West Brom, ending a run of three successive Anfield victories, they also lost by the same scoreline to Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League.

But with Swansea manager Michael Laudrup doing his predecessor a favour by naming an understrength side as he looks to Sunday's League Cup final, Liverpool were able to take advantage.

Steven Gerrard opened the scoring with a first-half penalty, making up for the spot-kick he failed with against the Baggies with the game still goalless, before a brilliant burst just after half-time secured the result.

Within 16 seconds of the restart £8.5million January signing Philippe Coutinho, on his full debut, made it 2-0 and within 10 minutes Jose Enrique and Luis Suarez had doubled that advantage.

It was only left to Daniel Sturridge, generously handed the duties by Gerrard, to convert Liverpool's second penalty of the afternoon and Swansea were dispatched with consummate ease.

"It was an important three points," said Rodgers.

"We've had a bumpy road in terms of games Monday and Thursday but the Premier League is very important for us and we knew we had to show focus and determination.

"I don't think you can take anything away from the Liverpool players but it (the final) was something Swansea were thinking about."

Swans boss Laudrup admitted that may have been a factor in such a poor performance, for which he took some of the blame.

"We had a couple of bad games in September but this was a very bad game for us and we just all have to take the blame – me included," he said.

Blame

"It is a little difficult to explain but I made a lot of changes so the first to blame is me because I picked the team.

"But I will not exclude players were thinking about the game next week, which in a certain way is human logic because it will be the biggest game in the history of the club.

"Seven days ago we played QPR (winning 4-1) and we spoke about remaining focused on that game and not on the final so it is very disappointing to see what happened yesterday.

"(Afterwards) my main thing to say to them was that everyone should look inside at what they could have done better.

"We have to learn from it and move on and think about the final."