Liverpool cruised into the English football League Cup third round with a 3-1 win over minnows Exeter City, while fellow Premier League sides Everton, Blackburn and Bolton also avoided early exits.
Kenny Dalglish's team were playing in the second round of the competition for the first time since 1999 following a rare failure to qualify for any European event.
But the seven-time League Cup winners were never in danger of crashing to a embarrassing defeat at St James' Park as goals from Luiz Suarez, Maxi Rodriguez and Andy Carroll gave Dalglish his 200th win in all competitions over two spells as Liverpool boss.
Everton lifted some of the gloom around Goodison Park with a 3-1 win against League One side Sheffield United.
Blackburn eased a little of the pressure on boss Steve Kean with a 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park.
Turkey forward Tuncay Sanli scored on his debut as Bolton came from behind to beat League Two outfit Macclesfield 2-1.
Ten-man West Ham were booed off after the Championship side suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat against Aldershot in a delayed first round tie.
