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Liverpool 4-3 Reading

A Robbie Fowler dinked finish and John Arne Riise's powerful left-foot shot put Liverpool firmly in control on the stroke of half-time.

Gabriel Paletta glanced in his first goal for Liverpool just after the break before Andre Bikey headed one back.

Peter Crouch appeared to seal the win at 4-1 but Leroy Lita and Shane Long made it a thrilling finish at Anfield.

The late drama threatened to spoil a fine performance from Liverpool and in particular Fowler, their skipper for the evening.

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He scored his first goal since the first day of the season in just his third appearance of the campaign.

Shortly before half-time he added to his impressive record in the League Cup, scoring his 21st goal in 23 appearances in the competition.

He ran on to a pass from Jermaine Pennant and produced the sort of finish seen so often by an adoring crowd of more than 42,000.

That came in the 44th minute but the Reds even had time to double their lead before the interval when Riise lashed in at the second attempt after Stack had kept out his first effort.

The Reds appeared to have the tie settled five minutes into the second period when Pennant's corner from the left found Paletta, who glanced a header into the far corner.

Fowler had chances to add to the scoreline before Bikey headed powerfully in from Glen Little's free-kick.

But their hopes of mounting a serious threat seemed to end three minutes later when Fowler set up strike partner Crouch, who bamboozled Stack with some dazzling footwork to walk in the fourth.

For the second time in four days following Sunday's defeat to Arsenal the Royals had conceded four, but to their credit they battled on and John Halls set up Lita to sidefoot home.

With time running out it looked little more than a consolation until Little and Long combined to make it 4-3 in the 84th minute.

Dirk Kuyt volleyed against the bar and then Fowler was twice denied by the woodwork as they searched for a fifth Liverpool goal, but their defence also survived some nervy goalmouth scrambles to go through to the next stage.