Takumi Minamino and Curtis Jones scored twice each as Liverpool cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 7-2 thrashing of Lincoln City.
Jurgen Klopp made ten changes to the side that started the win at Chelsea, with Virgil van Dijk the only survivor, pressed into action again because of injuries at centre-back, while there were debuts for academy graduate Rhys Williams and summer signing Kostas Tsimikas.
It took the Reds less than ten minutes to open the scoring in stunning fashion as Shaqiri whipped a trademark free-kick in off the woodwork and set the tone for a torrent of goals of the highest quality.
Not long after it was two, Minamino scoring his first with a magnificent curling effort into the top corner from 25 yards, only for Jones to match it with a similar strike after good work from Origi to make it three.
Jones’ second, and Liverpool’s fourth, benefited from a slight deflection but was again the product of great footwork from the youngster, and gave the visitors a cushion that allowed Klopp to give Van Dijk the second half off, sending on Fabinho in his place.
There was no let up after the restart, Minamino making it five with the simplest of finishes into an empty net after Shaqiri had been denied.
Tayo Edun pulled one back for the hosts on the hour-mark with a smart low finish, but Marko Grujic restored the five-goal cushion five minutes later with his first Reds goal.
Lewis Montsma’s powerful header made it 6-2 and substitute Theo Archibald should really have pulled another back, stooping to nod straight at Adrian when well placed.
Divock Origi added his name to the scoresheet late on, sidefooting home with a powerful finish.
