A second-half goal from French striker David Ngog eventually settled the third-round tie in the Barclays Premier League side's favour but it was the fallen Yorkshire giants who took most of the plaudits.

The League One leaders, roared on by the majority of a raucous 38,168 crowd, dominated large parts of game and spurned a number of good opportunities.

Striker Jermaine Beckford endured a particularly frustrating night with several clear-cut chances wasted and a goal disallowed.

It was Liverpool's first visit to Elland Road since Leeds were relegated from the top flight in 2004 but the passion of the occasion rekindled memories of a once intense rivalry.

"The atmosphere was fantastic, Leeds were really good," admitted Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.

"They are good team with good players and they worked really hard."

Liverpool created few meaningful opportunities until Albert Riera directed a free header straight at Shane Higgs on the stroke of half-time.

The Reds had made nine changes for the game but kept the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson on bench just in case Leeds threatened a shock.

And for most of the game they did, with Robert Snodgrass a constant danger and Beckford short of luck in front of goal.

Ngog, who had been deployed as a lone striker, claimed the decisive goal when he seized on a mishit Javier Mascherano cross and finished clinically after 65 minutes.

"We worked hard and I feel we had our chances," said Benitez.

"We won with a lot of players not playing and I am really pleased with my team, with the squad.

"I think we showed today we can manage with different players and for the rest of the season it is important to know you have players who can come in."

Leeds boss Simon Grayson was pleased with his side's effort and felt Beckford was unlucky to have an 11th-minute tap-in ruled out for offside.

Grayson said: "I'm hugely proud of them. I thought they were excellent from start to finish.

"We certainly matched them and on another night we might have got the victory our performance deserved.

"We had good opportunities but over the course of it maybe we did not get the breaks we deserved.

"I felt Jermaine was level with the centre-half for the goal. I'm loath to criticise but when you look he was level and the goal should have stood."

There was one other talking point after Mascherano's arm connected with Beckford but both managers played down the incident.