Liverpool 4 Reading 3
Robbie Fowler was named Liverpool skipper and the striker kick-started a thrilling victory over Reading in the Carling Cup.
The Kop favourite chipped in the first, John Arne Riise added another with a fierce strike in first-half injury time and Gabriel Paletta headed in a third to apparently kill off the tie.
Andre Bikey and Leroy Lita pulled goals back for the visitors but their strikes were sandwiched by a cool Peter Crouch finish in an exciting encounter.
Shane Long then headed another in for Reading but they could not find the leveller.