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Gemma Bonner scored for the first time in her second stint at Liverpool as they cruised to a comfortable Women's Super League victory over Brighton at Prenton Park.
Defender Bonner, who broke Liverpool's appearance record this month, was awarded a special shirt and plaque in a pre-match ceremony.
The 32-year-old, with her family watching on, had double the reason to celebrate when she headed home Marie Hobinger's corner.
Shanice van de Sanden made it 2-0 before Ceri Holland nodded home and Sophie Roman Haug added a fourth as Liverpool returned to winning ways following last week's 5-1 defeat by Chelsea.
Dutch forward Van de Sanden raced on to a through ball from strike partner Roman Haug and tucked past Sophie Baggaley, and then marked her partner giving birth to their daughter last week with a 'rocking the baby' celebration.
"It's been crazy, I'm so so happy," Van de Sanden told LFCTV. "I can't wait to see my baby girl again.
"I fly back tonight and can't wait to hold her in my arms again. I can't be more happy than today."
Holland made the three points safe after the interval following a mistake by Brighton defender Maria Thorisdottir, who failed to shepherd a loose ball out for a goal kick.
Roman Haug pounced on and clipped in a cross which Holland finished from close range.
Denmark international Roman Haug rounded off an excellent day for Matt Beard's Liverpool with a low finish from Leanne Kiernan's driven cross.
"This is our best performance of the season so far," said Van de Sanden. "We need to keep that up and then focus on the next one."
Victory keeps Liverpool securely in the top half of the WSL, while Brighton were left disappointed in a game where they started brightly but faded.
Mel Phillips' side looked to test debutant keeper Teagan Micah early on. The Australian international, making her first WSL start in place of the dropped Rachel Laws, had to tip Elisabeth Terland's awkward mishit cross over the bar inside the first 10 minutes.
Phillips had switched Brighton's formation from 5-4-1 to a more forward-looking 4-4-1-1, but Liverpool took control after the first goal and have now won four of their first eight WSL matches.
It could have been worse for Brighton in the later stages, had Baggaley not parried away Van de Sanden's powerful drive before Kiernan struck the bar.
It was an afternoon to remember for Bonner.
She returned to Liverpool in the summer following an initial spell at the club between 2012 and 2018 in which she captained the side to two WSL titles. She left the Reds for Manchester City and then moved to Racing Louisville FC in the United States.
This was her 138th appearance for Liverpool, having broken Ashley Hodson's previous record of 134 games earlier this month.
