MANAGER Eddie Howe is keen to use Cherries’ League Cup experience as a “positive” as they look to maintain their Championship challenge.

Two goals from Raheem Sterling and a bizarre Lazar Markovic effort saw Liverpool triumph 3-1 in tonight’s quarter-final at Dean Court.

Sterling’s headed opener was added to by Markovic, the Serbian netting with a thunderous drive to make it 2-0 after 27 minutes.

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The goal came after Tommy Elphick had stopped playing in the lead up, with the Cherries skipper mistaking a whistle from the crowd for that of referee Mark Clattenburg.

Sterling made it 3-0 six minutes into the second half before Dan Gosling bagged his fifth goal of the competition and then went close to scoring again when he struck the post. Although Liverpool dominated for long periods in the first half, Cherries were not without their chances and both Callum Wilson and Yann Kermorgant missed presentable opportunities.

Howe said: “It was a difficult first half for us. In saying that, I thought we started really well and it looked like it was going to be an electric evening for us. Callum has his chance that he was unfortunate not to score with and, you never know, if that had gone in, it could have been a totally different game.

“After that, I thought Liverpool showed their quality. We got bogged down with the ball and turned it over too easily and they controlled the game. It was difficult watching the first half because they were dominant with the ball. But we showed really good character in the second half and dug in and came out stronger for it.

“If the second one had gone in, the one that hit the woodwork from Dan Gosling, it could have been a nervy finish.”

Howe, whose team currently sit atop the Championship, added: “It is very important from our perspective to use this as a positive. Yes, we have gone out but I thought we showed our quality in the second half.

“I thought we showed we could create chances against a very good team. And with a little more luck and the rub of the green, if we had scored the first goal, it could have been very different.

“I think you have to admire Liverpool’s quality. I thought their first-half performance was very high technically. I thought they moved the ball very well and you could see their players were world class.

“We were probably a little too open and got caught between two stools of pressing and getting a good block on. We tweaked things at half-time and I thought we came out better for it.

“We took a risk playing two strikers. We knew that going into the game but we wanted to be positive. But really we looked better with three in midfield and got a lot more control that way. But we were at home in a cup tie and wanted to try to take the game to Liverpool.

“Some of our play in the second half was of a very high standard. The only disappointment in the first half was the regularity with which we gave away the ball, especially in the middle of the pitch. And, against a team of that quality on the counter-attack with Sterling up front, it was always going to be difficult.”

Asked about the whistle incident, Howe said: “I haven’t had a long conversation with Tommy. I am aware he stopped because he thought the referee had blown. I heard the whistle myself. It was a bizarre one and Tommy genuinely believed it to be the referee.

“I’m sure the person who did it, whoever he or she was, wouldn’t have meant to have cost us a goal and it was a bizarre situation.

“When you believe the referee has blown the whistle, sometimes you get a booking for carrying on. I don’t think anyone was to blame and it was still a quality finish from their player.

“At that stage, it was difficult because it was the second goal. I still felt at 1-0, the game was very much on and felt if we could have got that second goal back at 3-2, it would have been a really good end to the game.”