LONDON, 17 January 2008 — Liverpool thrashed third division Luton Town 5-0 in an FA Cup third-round replay at Anfield on Tuesday with Steven Gerrard grabbing a hat trick.

Tottenham Hotspur also advanced with a 1-0 replay win at Premier League rivals Reading, Robbie Keane scoring the winner to set up a tie at Manchester United.

Manager Rafael Benitez, whose future looks uncertain after Liverpool’s American owners admitted talking to Juergen Klinsmann about succeeding him at Anfield, sent out a strong team against a Luton side who held them 1-1 nine days ago.

The teams formed a guard of honor for Jamie Carragher before the start to mark the defender’s 500th appearance for Liverpool.

Carragher had a quiet night after that, although the visitors held out until a minute before halftime when Dutch winger Ryan Babel shot powerfully past keeper Dean Brill.

Gerrard headed the second after the break before Sami Hyypia made it 3-0 with a deflected header. Gerrard then slotted his second before completing his treble with a swerving effort 20 minutes from time.

Liverpool will be at home to third division Swansea City or minor league Havant and Waterlooville in round four.

“It was difficult to score the first goal but after that it was an open game,” Benitez told Sky Sports. “They (Luton) were defending very hard with lots of players behind the ball. “I’m very happy because we won the game and that’s all I was thinking about.” Elsewhere, second division Norwich City lost 2-1 at fourth division Bury while Millwall beat third division rivals Walsall 2-1. West Bromwich Albion scraped past fellow second division outfit Charlton Athletic on penalties after the tie ended 2-2.

Fulham’s replay at Bristol Rovers was postponed because of heavy rain, as was Sheffield Wednesday’s home tie with Derby County and Barnet versus Swindon Town.

In Wednesday’s replays Manchester City host West Ham United and Newcastle United are at home to Stoke City.

Barca Tame Holders Sevilla

to Advance in Cup

In Barcelona, Barcelona knocked holders Sevilla out of the King’s Cup on the away goals rule on Tuesday after a battling 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp.

Frank Rijkaard’s side, who drew 1-1 in last week’s first leg, were put under heavy pressure by Sevilla but held their nerve to book their place in the quarterfinals.

Barca will now meet the winners of the tie between Recreativo Huelva and Villarreal.

“It was a titanic effort from both teams,” said Barcelona president Joan Laporta. “In the end we had the luck to go through, but Sevilla are a great team and we saw two of the best sides in Europe competing out there.” Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez said the tie had turned on Thierry Henry’s away goal in the first leg.

“It was a very evenly balanced tie, but a great piece of skill from Henry proved to be decisive and that was what allowed his team to get through.” The game got off to a high tempo start with Sevilla keeping Barca on the rack in the opening minutes as they went in search of an early goal.

Striker Ernesto Chevanton had a great opportunity with seconds on the clock, just failing to connect when Daniel Alves curled a cross behind the Barca back four.

Barca refused to wilt under the pressure, however, and had several chances of their own with Andres Iniesta lashing over the bar after a jinking run into the area and Henry and Eidur Gudjohnsen both going close with shots from distance.

Alves almost broke the deadlock with a fierce dipping shot late on in the second half, while winger Jesus Navas had the ball in the net minutes later only to see the goal ruled out for offside.

Barca’s archrivals Real Madrid will need to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit when they host Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu on Wednesday if they are to join the Catalans in the last eight.