Jurgen Klopp's side dominated from start to finish in Staffordshire with Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino and a Tom Naylor own goal giving them a three-goal lead before Daniel Sturridge completed the rout with two late goals.

Both teams started slowly on a warm evening at the Pirelli Stadium but Liverpool began to assert themselves in the final third as early as the seventh minute when Origi saw an 10-yard effort well saved by Stephen Bywater.

Moments later, Bywater came to Burton's rescue for a second time when keeping out a header from Firmino but he was powerless to prevent the Merseyside giants from taking the lead through Origi, who flicked the ball into the net from three yards after good work from Sadio Mane.

Adam Lallana should have done better with a far-post header but Liverpool soon had their second through Firmino, who glanced a header into the far corner after being found by Nathaniel Clyne.

Burton were struggling to get near their Premier League opponents and Firmino came within a yard of adding a third when he prodded a Mane delivery a yard past the post.

The home side had Kyle McFadzean head over from 12 yards towards the end of the first half but that was as good as it got before the break as they struggled to stay competitive.

The Brewers threatened with a couple of corners soon after the restart but shortly after the hour mark, Liverpool made sure of progression with a third goal.

A corner from James Milner was heading towards Emre Can at the back post but before the German international could connect, Naylor diverted the ball into his own net from three yards.

Despite the lead, Klopp introduced both Georginio Wijnaldum and Sturridge with 25 minutes left and after first testing Bywater with a shot from distance, Sturridge got on the scoresheet.

Mane - who was arguably Liverpool's star man on the night - played in Milner and after advancing towards the byline, he fired the ball across goal where Sturridge was waiting at the back post to tap home from no more than two yards.

Five minutes later, the striker had his second when, after receiving a pass from Mane, he turned on the edge of the box before producing a fine finish from 16 yards.

That turned out to be the final opportunity of an impressive showing from Liverpool but they will be aware that they need to take this form into bigger challenges to come in the Premier League.