TRENT Alexander-Arnold milked the applause from Anfield after scoring the brilliant second goal that all but decided this tie.
Accrington Stanley showed exactly who they were for almost half an hour before Diogo Jota put Liverpool ahead after a lightning strike.
But the League Two side paid the price for dropping their level for a few minutes when Alexander-Arnold rifled home a brilliant shot just before half-time.
Just six days earlier, the England star had been the target of abuse from some home fans after a poor performance in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United followed more speculation of a move to Real Madrid.
But TAA received a decent ovation as he left the field just before the hour mark.
What he saw from the bench was not very comfortable as his team allowed Stanley back into the game.
Josh Burns hit the crossbar and defender Don Love missed a great chance to pull one back.
But Liverpool substitute Jayden Danns ended any debate with the third goal, before Federico Chiesa's first goal for the club put the bookend on Accrington's fairy tale.
It was also a historic day for Reds' Rio Ngumoha, who at 16 years and 135 days became the youngest player ever to start a match for the club.
The left winger impressed from the start, but Accrington held on for some time, although Liverpool should have taken the lead in the twelfth minute.
Dominik Szoboszlai dummyed Kostas Tsimikas' cross and Alexander-Arnold should probably have put his shot beyond the reach of Billy Crellin, Everton's on-loan Accrington goalkeeper.
But after Crellin stopped it with his right leg and the ball deflected to Nunez, the Uruguayan shot horribly over the bar.
The visitors also had fun at the other end, with Josh Whalley in particular coming in from the left, but the last ball was missing.
And it was from their own free-kick that the League Two side conceded.
Ben Woods' initial ball was poor and when Szoboszlai controlled a high ball to no one from Nelson Khumbeni, trouble soon followed.
The Hungarian found Alexander-Arnold releasing Nunez with a cute pass and Liverpool's number 9 crossed perfectly to where Jota had finished with a routine finish.
More good work from the Portuguese forward led to a half-chance for Harvey Elliott.
Crellin made an easy save and then watched as Tyler Morton fired comfortably over his goal.
But there was nothing Crellin could do as Alexander-Arnold found space just outside the penalty area and smashed a stunning finish over and into the net off the post.
Stanley made a double substitution at half-time, with former Liverpool trainee Liam Coyle coming on to try and revive his team's hopes.
Within a minute of the restart, Nunez saw a shot stopped by Crellin and then put Chiesa ahead ahead of Szoboszlai for an effort that was deflected wide.
Liverpool lost some momentum and were thankful Ben Woods' low shot was blocked by his own player.
The Reds were certainly not out of the woods yet.
Accrington's Josh met a corner at the back post, blocking Jota's header.
But moments later no one came near his shot as he cut inside and smashed an effort over the crossbar.
Slot made further changes just before the hour mark and Alexander-Arnold returned the crowd's applause when he was replaced by Conor Bradley.
He will have been less happy with what happened next, as his team lost balance and control.
Stanley, who are 19th in League Two, should have made things interesting with 25 minutes to go.
A well-executed move saw Whalley break into the six-yard box and centre-back Don Love had timed his run perfectly.
But he could only fire his free header wide of the goal while Caoimhin Kelleher's entire goal was open.
At the other end, Crellin stopped another Chiesa shot from a narrow angle.
But soon the game was over.
Jayden Danns won the ball in his own half and continued to run after playing in Chiesa.
The Italian's shot was well saved by Crellin, but Danns was there to smash the ball home and end any debate.
There was still time for Chiesa to hit one post and not long after break his Liverpool duck with a shot that went in from the other.
It was a pleasant end to the afternoon for Alexander-Arnold and his club after a tough week.
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