Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defence began with a 5-1 win over West Ham.
The visitors took a surprise first-half lead when Jarell Quansah turned the ball into his own net following a botched clearance from Wataru Endo.
But their advantage lasted a matter of minutes as Diogo Jota redressed the balance with a header from Federico Chiesa’s initial volley into the turf.
Arne Slot’s side completed their turnaround early in the second half through another clinical finish from Jota, this time slotting home in front of The Kop.
Substitute Mohamed Salah further extended their advantage in the closing stages by rifling a first-time strike into the roof of Lukasz Fabianski’s net.
West Ham were later reduced to 10 men as Edson Alvarez picked up a second booking for scything down Salah on the right-hand touchline.
Cody Gakpo rounded off a comprehensive rout for the holders with two well-taken late efforts to set up a trip to Brighton in next month’s fourth round.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Slot follows rare Klopp lead
Arne Slot has maintained that his Liverpool reign will follow its own path rather than attempting to imitate the body of work which Jurgen Klopp left behind..
But while the Dutchman remains steadfast in that outlook, he is also showing that he is not above following in his predecessor’s footsteps on some fronts.
The Carabao Cup became Klopp’s most successful competition on a bedrock of harnessing the club’s impressive youth crop alongside first-team regulars.
Defending the trophy, Slot took a leaf out of the German’s playbook for West Ham’s visit with nine changes from last weekend’s win over Bournemouth.
Only Darwin Nunez and Caoimhin Kelleher kept their place in the starting XI as the likes of Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley were given time to shine.
Aside from an early scare in Quansah’s own goal, the Reds rarely looked troubled as they condemned West Ham side to another 5-1 hammering.
He may be out of sight but Klopp’s cup philosophy is alive and well at Anfield.
Chiesa shows signs of promise
Federico Chiesa found himself in dubious company on a first Liverpool start.
Not since Mario Balotelli almost a decade ago had an Italian player began a competitive game in the red shirt while other compatriots fared little better.
Kopites may have had just cause to be apprehensive, given Chiesa’s only prior involvement was fleeting glimpses against AC Milan and Bournemouth.
The Euro 2020 winner, however, is not doomed to failure like Balotelli and their various countrymen were judging by this latest hour-long outing.
Granted, there is still a degree of ring rust for a player still adjusting to a new league and team, the latter themselves only getting to grips with Slot’s vision.
Even in that context, he still showed signs of promise and even added a goal involvement with his downward volley teeing up Diogo Jota for the leveller.
A standing ovation from across Anfield when he was withdrawn for Mohamed Salah shortly before the hour mark reflected the appreciation of his efforts.
Those early indications suggest that, with further adjustment and refinement, Chiesa will soon be adding to an embarrassment of attacking riches for Slot.
Jota finally seizes the spotlight
The problem with Liverpool’s already well-stocked artillery has been that players are now required to wait for their moment in the spotlight.
At different times this season, the acclaim has gravitated towards Salah, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and, most recently, the much-maligned Nunez.
Jota, meanwhile, found himself consigned to a supporting cast role but the Hammers’ visit on Wednesday changed all that as he assumed centre-stage.
Virtually from the outset, the Portugal international had the visitors on red alert with his regular driving runs alongside fellow two-goal hero Gakpo.
Leaping ahead of both Lukasz Fabianski and Max Kilman, his equaliser was testament to sharp anticipation in meeting Chiesa’s initial volleyed attempt.
A trademark finish early in the second half, coolly slotted in front of The Kop, set the wheels in motion for a repeat of last season’s quarter-final score line.
Jota received his dues beneath the Anfield lights and, most likely, has played his way into a place for Saturday’s trip to take on former employers Wolves.