Lauri Dalla Valle hit a stunning first-half hat-trick as Liverpool kept their FA Youth Cup dream alive with a magnificent 5-1 rout of Leicester City on Tuesday night.

The prolific Finn returned from injury to fire home three goals inside 35 minutes, leaving the Foxes' unbeaten record in tatters. Tom Ince and Michael Ngoo were also on target for last year's finalists in what was surely their best performance of the season so far.

Abdillahie Yussuf did pull a goal back for the home side but they could not deny the Reds a deserved victory.

The result means Rodolfo Borrell's hopes of ending his first campaign in English football with some silverware remain very much on course and his team will now progress into round five of the competition full of confidence.

On an incredible evening of football in the East Midlands, it was actually Leicester who made the more purposeful start and they could well have been ahead inside the first three minutes.

A long throw, which was a feature of their play when they beat the Reds 3-0 in Kirkby earlier in the season, caused problems in the visitors' box, allowing Claudiu Hobin to cross towards Yussuf at the far post. The Foxes striker looked odds-on to convert but Deale Chamberlain did just enough to put him off and the ball fell wide of goal.

Liverpool responded and snatched the lead with their first attack three minutes later. Ince found space in the centre circle and played a ball into the left hand channel for Ngoo. The former Southend forward teased his marker before delivering a superb cross for Dalla Valle, who rose majestically to head into the top corner.

It was the perfect start for the Reds, but it got even better on eight minutes when Dalla Valle was again on hand to double Liverpool's advantage.

Christopher Buchtmann cut in from the right and hit a bouncing shot that Robert Ambrusics could only parry into the path of the Finn, who coolly converted from six yards out.

At this point Borrell's youngsters were in dreamland, but they were served a warning of the Foxes' threat when Ben Milne curled a left-wing free-kick inches past the far post.

They were then left breathing an even bigger sigh of relief on 14 minutes when Hobin raced clear on goal, only to see his clipped effort bounce back off the woodwork.

It was a big miss for the hosts and one that would prove to be a huge turning point in the match.

Leicester had been much-fancied prior to kick-off but Liverpool had made a mockery of that early on and some more magic from Dalla Valle carved out an opportunity for Ngoo, only for the number 9 to drag his shot wide.

The Reds seemed to have discovered a cutting edge that had been missing in their play prior to the winter break and they made it three on 31 minutes when Ince ran through to fire the ball low beyond Ambrusics.

City were completely stunned and before they could react Dalla Valle completed his hat-trick two minutes later when he shrugged off a challenge before nonchalantly stroking the ball in off the far post.

Thirty-five minutes on the clock and Liverpool were out of sight.

It could even have got worse for City just before half-time but Ngoo was thwarted by Ambrusics after the 'keeper was once again left facing a one-on-one situation.

Borrell would have been eager to ensure his side remained focused at the restart and they could so easily have carried on where left off, but Buchtmann slipped at the vital moment with Dalla Valle clear on goal.

The hosts were always going to press in the second 45 and Chamberlain produced a fine stop to keep out George Taft's header, while at the other end Ngoo was denied by Ambrusics.

The Leicester fans that had braved the wintry conditions were craving something to cheer and after Milne was unlucky to strike the post with a raking volley, Yussuf was on hand to reduce the arrears from close range on 68 minutes.

There was suddenly a renewed hope inside the ground and the Foxes should have had a second within a minute but Chamberlain did well to deny his namesake Elliot.

It was as far as their fight-back would go, however, as Ngoo finally got his goal five minutes from time to complete a memorable night for the Reds.

 Leicester City Youth: Ambrusics, Moore (Terrot 89), Taft (Knight 72), Milne, Bolger, Parkes, John, Hicks, Chamberlain, Yussuf, Hobin (Norburn 46). Unused subs: Gill, Byrne.

Liverpool Youth: Chamberlain, Flanagan, Robinson (Ellison 62), Wisdom, McGiveron (Sama 73), Coady, Buchtmann, Roberts, Ngoo, Ince, Dalla Valle (Adorjan 78). Unused Subs: Belford, Roddan.

Liverpoolfc.tv: Lauri Dalla Valle. Simply sensational.