The Reds booked a fifth round tie against Chelsea at Anfield after beating Bristol Rovers on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the Memorial Ground, Bristol last night.
After a goalless first half Liverpool took the lead when Lauri Dalla Valle reacted quickest after Alex Kacaniklic's shot came back off the post and headed in the rebound.
The lead lasted a mere two minutes; Eliot Richards equalised for Rovers after some route one football saw a flick on headed down to him in the box and he beat Dean Bouzanis from six yards.
Although there were a few half chances to win in the game in normal time nothing clear cut was made and the match went into extra time. Liverpool seemed the fitter going into the extra period with Rovers players going down with cramp every couple of minutes.
That fitness seemed to pay off minutes after the restart when David Amoo's through ball found Dalla Valle and he restored the Reds' lead. Unfortunately the lead again lasted only a couple of minutes. Eliot Richards found space in the Liverpool penalty area before being brought down by a rash challenge from Andre Wisdom. Richards picked himself up and scored the resultant penalty.
Subsitute Nathan Ecclestone had a great chance to win it at the death but his lack of match sharpness following an injury lay-off showed as he headed wide and the game went to penalties.
Steve Irwin, Dalla Valle, Ecclestone and captain Joe Kennedy all scored their penalties while Ollie Clarke skied one over the bar for Bristol Rovers before Richards had his pen saved by Bouzanis for the Reds to make it through to round five.
