Goals from Jamie McDonald, Franny Foy, Elliott Nevitt and a Liam Dawson compounded Widnes’ misery of late as the Whites suffered a sixth defeat in their previous seven games in all competitions.

Lewis Buckley equalised eight minutes before half-time, but it served as little more than a consolation for Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey’s side – beaten semi-finalists in this competition in each of the previous two seasons.

The co-bosses made three changes to the side beaten at home by Pontefract Collieries last time out. Fisnik Hajdari was ruled out with a knee injury while Joe Herbert and Rhain Hellawell both dropped to the bench.

Sam Heathcote made his long-awaited Widnes debut after a long-term injury layoff, while Buckley and Michael Grogan were recalled, but Adam Morgan was made to wait for his Widnes debut as he nurses a knock.

The opening exchanges were lively. Widnes forced a couple of early corners but City of Liverpool ultimately made the better start with Karl Clair rattling the crossbar with only four minutes on the clock.

Craig Robinson’s Purps pushed with an intense press that disrupted Widnes’ desired attempt to play out from the back, and McDonald capitalised on Danny Shaw getting caught underneath an aerial ball to force a save out of Owen Wheeler.

Moments later, the hosts took the lead. The resulting corner was helped back into the area by Luke Denson, finding McDonald who turned home from close-range.

Despite a promising start, Widnes found themselves at second-best with Buckley’s sliced effort off target the Whites’ first decent opening.

The Purps were in control and perhaps should have doubled their advantage when Jack Hazlehurst blazed off target, pulling up with a hamstring injury in the process with Dawson introduced as his replacement.

McDonald came close again following the hour-mark as his effort took a slight deflection on its way wide after Widnes were once again dispossessed in midfield.

The Whites were soon level. The goal admittedly came against the run of play and provided the visitors a welcomed boost. Widnes won possession back in midfield and had the ball in the net within four passes, with Buckley netting a diving header from James Murray’s cross.

They were level for less than five minutes. Dawson found space from 25 yards from goal to find the bottom corner, with a cruel bounce beating the outstretched Wheeler.

Widnes thought they had equalised for a second time inside first half stoppage time, but Purps goalkeeper James Aspinall produced a stunning save to claw Grogan’s seemingly goalbound header away to safety.

A response was needed in the second half, and Widnes edged the half’s opening 30 minutes.

Despite McDonald seeing an early effort beaten away by Wheeler, the Purps rarely threatened and retreated as their high press faded.

A well-weighted deep cross from Ready was headed straight at Aspinall by Grogan, while Murray struck wide from a tight angle.

Youngster Hellawell was brought on as Widnes searched for a way back into the contest, but they conceded a third goal against the run of play.

Shaw conceded a cheap free-kick and was duly punished. Left-back Foy curled a free-kick around the wall and into the back of the net, surely confirming the Purps’ progression through to the last eight.

In truth, Widnes had edged the second half and looked the more likely side to grab the game’s crucial fourth goal, but after going 3-1 down, a team low on confidence were dispatched by a ruthless City of Liverpool side.

Ben Hodkinson twice drove efforts straight at Aspinall minutes before Robinson’s hosts grabbed a fourth.

Kevin McEllin was the architect, bringing down a loose ball in acres of space and quickly releasing Nevitt down the left. Wheeler committed but ultimately lost the race, with Nevitt sliding a shot into the empty net via the foot of the far post.

It was 5-1 inside second half stoppage time. Nevitt led the charge but saw his initial effort saved by Wheeler, but Dawson was alert to net the rebound to encapsulate Widnes’ wretched run of form.