A Steven Gerrard hat-trick ensured Liverpool beat Luton 5-0 to progress into the FA Cup fourth round.
Reds through after beating League One side at Anfield
A Steven Gerrard hat-trick ensured Liverpool progressed into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Luton.
The Reds beat the League One outfit 5-0 at Anfield thanks to second-half goals from Gerrard (52, 64, 72) and Sami Hyypia (57).
Luton had earlier defended resolutely and it needed a goal by Ryan Babel in first-half injury time (46 minutes) to break the deadlock.
Liverpool now face either Swansea or non-league Havant and Waterlooville in the next round.
The game was also notable as it marked Jamie Carragher's 500th appearance for the Reds and he wore the captain's armband for the game.
Jermaine Pennant then found Peter Crouch three minutes later, only for the striker to miss a good chance, heading wide from close range when it seemed easier to score.
Babel almost gave Liverpool the lead in the ninth minute after being released by Gerrard.
He beat goalkeeper Dean Brill with a curling shot from 20 yards but his superb effort came back off the post.
Then Peter Crouch hooked the ball high over the crossbar following a cross from Gerrard and Fernando Torres followed suit in the 14th minute.
Babel was wasteful in the 38th minute when he sent his effort over the crossbar from the edge of the area after Crouch had played the ball back to him.
Veteran Luton defender Don Hutchison then launched himself at a shot from Gerrard on the stroke of half-time to make a clearance.
Breakthrough
The breakthrough finally came in first-half stoppage time when Babel rifled a shot beyond Brill and into the corner after being released by Torres.
Gerrard made it 2-0 a minute later when he headed in from close range after Crouch flicked on a cross from Pennant.
Liverpool raised the tempo and Torres saw his shot deflected to safety by Keith Keane in the 56th minute.
They extended their lead a minute later after Gerrard swung in a corner from the left.
Hyypia claimed the goal although Luton defender Matthew Spring seemed to get a touch at the last minute.
Gerrard scored his second of the game and made it 4-0 in the 64th minute,stroking the ball into the corner.
It came after Hutchison had only partially cleared a shot from Torres inside the area.
Hat-trick
Gerrard completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute with a thumping 30-yard drive that wrong-footed Brill after being set up by Riise.
Substitute Dirk Kuyt should have made it 6-0 only to head wide from close range 10 minutes later following a cross from Pennant.
| Liverpool |
Team Statistics |
Luton Town |
| 5 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 11 |
Shots on Target |
0 |
| 9 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
| 12 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 11 |
Corners |
2 |
| 5 |
Fouls |
7 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 57% |
Possession |
43% |
|
