Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Brendan Rodgers: Lambert and Markovic will star for Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers has defended summer signings Rickie Lambert and Lazar Markovic, insisting they will deliver for Liverpool.

Lambert and Markovic have made slow starts to life at Anfield, with neither seizing the opportunity to impress in Tuesday's 2-1 Capital One Cup win over Swansea.

Neither has yet scored a Liverpool goal, and both were substituted before Liverpool came from behind to defeat Rodgers' former club.

Only three of Lambert's nine appearances have come from the start, and Rodgers told a news conference: "Rickie Lambert hasn't had many opportunities. Goals will come. He has worked tirelessly every day."

Lambert cost 4.5 million pounds from Southampton, for whom he scored 117 goals in 235 games.

Winger Markovic, a 20 million-pound signing from Benfica, has played eight times for Liverpool but Rodgers said: "We have confidence Markovic will become a big player for us."

Liverpool have been without striker Daniel Sturridge since August because of thigh and groin problems, and the England international suggested his injuries could be because of hereditary conditions.

#INSERT type:image caption:Rickie Lambert has yet to open his account for Liverpool. END#

Rodgers added: "I can only concentrate on that he is injured now and what my medical team are telling me. He is just in the middle of recovery, and we will see how long it takes. I am not an expert on genetics. He had a calf injury on the back of a thigh injury."

Sturridge is the only striker to have scored a league goal for Liverpool this season with Mario Balotelli, Lambert and Fabio Borini all yet to get off the mark.

Rodgers said: "It is up to myself to find the solution. We have players that are working very, very hard and still learning about each other."

The Liverpool manager also praised Borini, who set up Balotelli's leveller against Swansea, saying: "Fabio was excellent the other night -- a real threat -- and it was a wonderful cross for the first goal."

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