Captain Steven Gerrard scored twice to save Liverpool from FA Cup football embarrassment in a tricky 2-1 win at fourth tier AFC Wimbledon in London.
English footballer Steven Gerrard. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Reds will play second tier Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round of the competition later this month.
In the day's other FA Cup match, Premier League strugglers Burnley fought back from a goal down at home to draw 1-1 with fellow top flight side Tottenham Hotspur and force a replay to decide who then takes on Leicester City.
Liverpool's departing captain Gerrard, who has announced his departure for the United States at the end of the season, headed the opener in the 12th minute.
But the match at Kingsmeadow, reviving memories of 1988 when the old Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang' beat Liverpool in a hard-tackling final, refused to follow the script.
Lifelong Liverpool fan Adebayo Akinfenwa, a stocky striker nicknamed 'The Beast', had the home fans dreaming when he poked in a 36th minute equaliser after some woeful defending by the Merseysiders.
With a major upset looking possible, and Wimbledon having missed several clear chances, Gerrard came to the rescue with a curling free kick into the top corner in the 62nd minute.
FA Cup fourth round draw:
Southampton or Ipswich v Crystal Palace
Cambridge United v Manchester United
Blackburn v Swansea
Chelsea v Millwall or Bradford
Derby v Scunthorpe or Chesterfield
Preston v Sheffield United
Birmingham v West Brom
Aston Villa v Bournemouth
Cardiff v Reading
Liverpool v Bolton
Burnley or Tottenham v Leicester
Brighton v Arsenal
Rochdale v Stoke
Sunderland v Fulham or Wolves
Doncaster or Bristol City v Everton or West Ham
Manchester City v Middlesbrough
(Ties to be played across the weekend beginning January 24)