England duo Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge were both on target as Liverpool won 5-3 at Stoke City.
It was the captain's first Premier League start in a month and he marked it with his fourth goal of the season for the Reds.
Gerrard’s comeback from injury continued following a substitute appearance against Hull City on New Year’s Day and 77 minutes against Oldham Athletic in The FA Cup last week.
Steven Gerrard tucks away his penalty
And when Three Lions youngster Raheem Sterling was tripped inside the area for a penalty five minutes into the second half, Gerrard stepped up to slot past England Under-21s keeper Jack Butland.
There was more good news on the injury front for Liverpool and England as Sturridge was back in Brendan Rodgers’ side for the first time since 23 November.
The 24-year-old had missed nine games for the Anfield side, but came from the bench in place of Philippe Coutinho with 25 minutes remaining.
It took him just five minutes to make an impact as he played in Luis Suarez to give the visitors a 4-2 lead with a fine curling finish inside the post.
Suarez returned the favour in the closing moments as Sturridge first forced a wonderful save from Butland before reacting quickest to grab Liverpool's fifth.
The Reds, who also featured England players Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson, found themselves two goals up just after the half-hour mark thanks to an own goal from Ryan Shawcross and Suarez's first of the afternoon.
Daniel Sturridge celebrates on his Liverpool return
Butland could do little about either goal. The first was a deflection off the defender, while a mix-up inside the box allowed the free-scoring Uruguayan to capitalise.
However, two former Reds, Peter Crouch and Charlie Adam, netted to bring Stoke back into it at the break.
Crouch, who has scored 22 goals in 42 England appearances, applied a deft header to get the home side back into the contest before Adam fired them level.
After Gerrard and Suarez had put Liverpool back in charge at 4-2, Jonathan Walters gave Stoke hope poking in their third, but Sturridge wrapped up the points to send the Anfield outfit back into the top four.
In the day’s earlier game, Manchester City went back to the top of the table following a 2-0 win at Newcastle United.
Joe Hart keeps a clean sheet against Newcastle
England keeper Joe Hart made an important one-on-one save midway through the second half from Loic Remy with his side leading 1-0 thanks to Edin Djeko’s eighth-minute opener.
Manchester City took the spoils, though, when substitute James Milner provided the assist for Alvaro Negredo to clinch victory in the last minute.
However, the Magpies will rue an early equaliser from Cheick Tiote that was ruled out for offside. The result keeps Newcastle eighth in the Premier League table.
