Elijah Dixon-Bonner - 6: The 20-year-old came on in stoppage time for Jones to make his second first-team appearance. The midfielder will profit from the experience.
Owen Beck - 6: The 19-year-old full back has a famous uncle in Ian Rush. He made his debut in stoppage time, replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain and will hope for many more outings. AP
PRESTON RATINGS: Declan Rudd - 5: The 30-year-old made some straightforward saves and marshalled the defence well. He got caught under the ball before the second goal and was then fooled by Origi’s flick. AP
Joe Rafferty – 7: The former Liverpool youth player enjoyed a fine game against his boyhood club. He ranged up and down the line and provided a great ball to Barkhuizen, who should have done better with the shot. AP
Sepp van den Berg - 7:
The Dutchman is on loan from Anfield and can be happy with his performance against his parent club. He was impressive while defending and good on the ball. Getty
Liam Lindsay – 6: The Scot should have done more to stop the first goal but he let Minamino move across him. He was good in the air and blocked a shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain in the first half. PA
Andrew Hughes – 6: The Welshman had a solid outing. He had the pace to deal with Liverpool’s second-string attack. Getty
Greg Cunningham - 5: The Irishman was in his comfort zone until Williams was pushed forward on the right. He was exposed in the buildup to the first goal and was replaced by Earl with 21 minutes to go. Getty
Ali McCann – 7: The 21-year-old ran himself into the ground and made a good impression. He was quick to the ball and used it nicely when in possession. Withdrawn after 78 minutes when Johnson joined the action. Getty
Ryan Ledson – 6: The former Everton midfielder fired over the bar in the first half and tried to keep his team on the front foot. Substituted for Whiteman with 11 minutes left. PA
Brad Potts – 5: The 27-year-old had two chances and failed to take either. He was also wasteful with the ball at his feet. AP
Tom Barkhuizen – 5: The forward used his pace to get behind the defence but did not have enough quality in his final ball or his shooting. Taken off for Jakobsen in the 63rd minute. AP
Sean Maguire – 6:
The Irishman had his team’s best chance but was foiled by Adrian. He lacked the ability to turn good approach work into goals. Replaced by Sinclair with 12 minutes to go. AP
SUBS: Emil Riis Jakobsen – 5: The Dane came on for Barkhuizen with 27 minutes left but was unable to keep up his run of scoring in each round of this year's competition. Getty
Josh Earl – 5: The 23-year-old replaced Cunningham with 21 minutes to go. He also found Williams to be a handful. Getty
Daniel Johnson – 5: The Jamaican joined the action with 12 minutes left for McCann. He was willing enough but looked like he was treading water when trailing Jones.
Ben Whiteman - 6: The 25-year-old was given the last 12 minutes as Preston chased the game. He won a couple of challenges and gave his team some offensive impetus.
Scott Sinclair - 5: The 32-year-old was part of a triple substitution in the 78th minute, replacing Maguire. He saw little of the ball. PA
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Adrian - 7: The Spaniard had a fine game and kept his team from going behind in the first half. A late save ensured there was no nervous ending for Liverpool. Getty
Neco Williams – 8: The 20-year-old blocked the ball on the line with his face but it was in attack that he shone. He moved from defence to the right wing after the break and was involved in both goals. AP
Joel Matip - 5: The plan was always to give the centre back 45 minutes but he did not look very comfortable during his time on the pitch. He was replaced by Phillips after the break. AP
Joe Gomez - 6: The 24-year-old was slapdash in the first half and gave away the ball too often in dangerous situations. He improved in the second half. Reuters
Kostas Tsimikas - 6: The Greek was pinned back in the early stages of the game and when he did get forward his distribution was haphazard. His cross hit the bar to set up the second goal. Getty
Tyler Morton - 6: The 18-year-old was calm and effective on the ball and contributed to the opening goal. He struggled with his defensive duties. AP
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5: The Englishman needs playing time but he failed to make the most of it. He threatened from distance but did not perform the leadership role his experience demanded. He was withdrawn in stoppage time to give Dixon-Bonner a short outing. PA
Curtis Jones - 6: The 20-year-old initially found it hard to get on the ball but when he did he worried Preston with his direct running. Taken off in the final moments for Beck. Getty
Takumi Minamino - 7: The Japanese was lively in the first half when Liverpool lacked spark up front. He showed a goalscorer's instinct to put his team ahead. AP
Divock Origi - 6: Just when the Belgian looked fated to have another completely ineffective game he scored with an outrageous flicked backheel. No one can be sure what to expect from the big striker. AP
Harvey Blair – 5: The 18-year-old was isolated on the right. He was rarely given a pass and was peripheral for 55 minutes before being replaced by Bradley. Getty
SUBS: Nathaniel Phillips - 6: The 24-year-old came on for Matip after half time for his first appearance of the season and helped nullify Preston’s aerial threat. Getty
Conor Bradley - 6: The 18-year-old replaced Blair with 25 minutes to go and was comfortable at right back. He was composed in his passing and defending. Getty
Elijah Dixon-Bonner - 6: The 20-year-old came on in stoppage time for Jones to make his second first-team appearance. The midfielder will profit from the experience.
Owen Beck - 6: The 19-year-old full back has a famous uncle in Ian Rush. He made his debut in stoppage time, replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain and will hope for many more outings. AP
PRESTON RATINGS: Declan Rudd - 5: The 30-year-old made some straightforward saves and marshalled the defence well. He got caught under the ball before the second goal and was then fooled by Origi’s flick. AP
Joe Rafferty – 7: The former Liverpool youth player enjoyed a fine game against his boyhood club. He ranged up and down the line and provided a great ball to Barkhuizen, who should have done better with the shot. AP
Sepp van den Berg - 7:
The Dutchman is on loan from Anfield and can be happy with his performance against his parent club. He was impressive while defending and good on the ball. Getty
Liam Lindsay – 6: The Scot should have done more to stop the first goal but he let Minamino move across him. He was good in the air and blocked a shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain in the first half. PA
Andrew Hughes – 6: The Welshman had a solid outing. He had the pace to deal with Liverpool’s second-string attack. Getty
Greg Cunningham - 5: The Irishman was in his comfort zone until Williams was pushed forward on the right. He was exposed in the buildup to the first goal and was replaced by Earl with 21 minutes to go. Getty
Ali McCann – 7: The 21-year-old ran himself into the ground and made a good impression. He was quick to the ball and used it nicely when in possession. Withdrawn after 78 minutes when Johnson joined the action. Getty
Ryan Ledson – 6: The former Everton midfielder fired over the bar in the first half and tried to keep his team on the front foot. Substituted for Whiteman with 11 minutes left. PA
Brad Potts – 5: The 27-year-old had two chances and failed to take either. He was also wasteful with the ball at his feet. AP
Tom Barkhuizen – 5: The forward used his pace to get behind the defence but did not have enough quality in his final ball or his shooting. Taken off for Jakobsen in the 63rd minute. AP
Sean Maguire – 6:
The Irishman had his team’s best chance but was foiled by Adrian. He lacked the ability to turn good approach work into goals. Replaced by Sinclair with 12 minutes to go. AP
SUBS: Emil Riis Jakobsen – 5: The Dane came on for Barkhuizen with 27 minutes left but was unable to keep up his run of scoring in each round of this year's competition. Getty
Josh Earl – 5: The 23-year-old replaced Cunningham with 21 minutes to go. He also found Williams to be a handful. Getty
Daniel Johnson – 5: The Jamaican joined the action with 12 minutes left for McCann. He was willing enough but looked like he was treading water when trailing Jones.
Ben Whiteman - 6: The 25-year-old was given the last 12 minutes as Preston chased the game. He won a couple of challenges and gave his team some offensive impetus.
Scott Sinclair - 5: The 32-year-old was part of a triple substitution in the 78th minute, replacing Maguire. He saw little of the ball. PA
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Adrian - 7: The Spaniard had a fine game and kept his team from going behind in the first half. A late save ensured there was no nervous ending for Liverpool. Getty
Neco Williams – 8: The 20-year-old blocked the ball on the line with his face but it was in attack that he shone. He moved from defence to the right wing after the break and was involved in both goals. AP
Joel Matip - 5: The plan was always to give the centre back 45 minutes but he did not look very comfortable during his time on the pitch. He was replaced by Phillips after the break. AP
Joe Gomez - 6: The 24-year-old was slapdash in the first half and gave away the ball too often in dangerous situations. He improved in the second half. Reuters
Kostas Tsimikas - 6: The Greek was pinned back in the early stages of the game and when he did get forward his distribution was haphazard. His cross hit the bar to set up the second goal. Getty
Tyler Morton - 6: The 18-year-old was calm and effective on the ball and contributed to the opening goal. He struggled with his defensive duties. AP
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5: The Englishman needs playing time but he failed to make the most of it. He threatened from distance but did not perform the leadership role his experience demanded. He was withdrawn in stoppage time to give Dixon-Bonner a short outing. PA
Curtis Jones - 6: The 20-year-old initially found it hard to get on the ball but when he did he worried Preston with his direct running. Taken off in the final moments for Beck. Getty
Takumi Minamino - 7: The Japanese was lively in the first half when Liverpool lacked spark up front. He showed a goalscorer's instinct to put his team ahead. AP
Divock Origi - 6: Just when the Belgian looked fated to have another completely ineffective game he scored with an outrageous flicked backheel. No one can be sure what to expect from the big striker. AP
Harvey Blair – 5: The 18-year-old was isolated on the right. He was rarely given a pass and was peripheral for 55 minutes before being replaced by Bradley. Getty
SUBS: Nathaniel Phillips - 6: The 24-year-old came on for Matip after half time for his first appearance of the season and helped nullify Preston’s aerial threat. Getty
Conor Bradley - 6: The 18-year-old replaced Blair with 25 minutes to go and was comfortable at right back. He was composed in his passing and defending. Getty
Elijah Dixon-Bonner - 6: The 20-year-old came on in stoppage time for Jones to make his second first-team appearance. The midfielder will profit from the experience.
Owen Beck - 6: The 19-year-old full back has a famous uncle in Ian Rush. He made his debut in stoppage time, replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain and will hope for many more outings. AP
