Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones feels his side must stop relying so heavily on the talents of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard.

The two Reds stars were called upon by Brendan Rodgers to lift Wednesday’s youthful side to victory over Swansea City in the Capital One Cup, only for the Welsh side to see out a 3-1 triumph.

Initially, fringe players were given the chance to send the club through to the quarter-finals, and their frailties left Jones frustrated.

Jones told the Daily Mail: “The fact other players were getting a run in the cup was good because we were performing well with players who were not playing regularly in the league and that was a bonus.

“A few players came in and got minutes, which was good, but it took us 45 minutes to get going and by that time it was too late as they had a grip on the game.

“In the end it took Stevie and Luis coming on to spark the game up and for the team playing in the cups you don’t really want them coming on, you want to do it yourself.

“It is a difficult one. Stevie is an icon for the club and he carries the club sometimes.”

Despite preferring the more inexperienced members of the first-team squad being able to beat the Swans, Jones admitted the influence of Gerrard and Suarez was immediately visible after their introduction.

He added: “Them coming on just gave us that spark, it made the other players pick up, the tempo was quicker and passing was crisper and we controlled the game better.

“Whether that was through them specifically or whether it was the other players upping it because the manager had basically had a go at us at half-time and sent them on.

“But it was the kick up the backside to let everyone know things weren’t going well and we needed to get moving.”