The Reds, who named a strong side including ex-Hull City loanee Lazar Markovic and Wales international Ben Woodburn, came into the game with a 100 per cent record in the competition and immediately set about maintaining that standard, taking the lead inside the first minute through Harry Wilson and never looking back on a wet and windy night on Merseyside.
Despite being second best for much of the first half, we clawed our way back from 2-0 down to draw level through Marcus Edwards' penalty and an eye-catching strike from Christian Maghoma, but Liverpool's early superiority was underlined when Wilson completed his hat-trick before the half was out.