Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish praised the way his side responded to back-to-back league defeats with a Carling Cup win over tricky Brighton on Wednesday.
Dalglish fielded a strong side against the Championship outfit and the Reds progressed to the fourth round with a 2-1 win at the Apex Stadium.
Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt were on target in a game which marked the return of Steven Gerrard, who replaced Luis Suarez with 15 minutes remaining.
It was exactly the reply Dalglish had hoped for, having seen his side suffer consecutive defeats in the Premier League to Stoke and Tottenham, who embarrassed Liverpool with a 4-0 mauling at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
"For us, it was a fantastic response to what happened to us on Sunday - we're delighted," Dalglish told Sky Sports.
"I've great respect for Brighton, what Gus Poyet has achieved, and we wish them well for the season.
"Liverpool, in the first half, played some fantastic football. In the second half, Brighton had most of the play but Pepe [Reina] didn't have much of a save to make.
"They're a good side Brighton, they're well organized and have a bit of pace about them. We had to play really well to get through and the lads deserve great credit for the way they played."
After a late penalty which saw Brighton threaten a push for extra-time, Dalglish was relieved not to have Gerrard's cameo appearance turn into a 45-minute workout.
The Reds boss admitted had Liverpool been more comfortable earlier in the game, he may have handed Gerrard more time, but he insists the club cannot afford to be "irresponsible" with the club captain.
"If it had been four or five maybe we could have given him a wee bit longer but there was no way it was ever going to be four or five," said Dalglish.
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