Liverpool secured a dominant 3-0 FA Cup victory over Brighton at Anfield, with Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Mohamed Salah on the scoresheet.
Liverpool surged into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Valentine's Day. Goals from Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, and a Mohamed Salah penalty secured their passage, showcasing their clinical edge in a competitive cup tie.
This FA Cup clash pitted two sides with distinct footballing philosophies against each other. Liverpool, known for strong cup runs, aimed to continue their pursuit of silverware. Brighton sought to cause an upset and progress in the prestigious competition, always capable of a surprise result.
The opening period was a tense affair, characterized by robust challenges. Brighton’s captain, Lewis Dunk, earned the game's first yellow card in the 15th minute. This indicated a physical approach from the visitors, setting an early tone for the match.
Brighton's aggressive play continued, leading to further bookings. Danny Gomez was cautioned in the 33rd minute for a foul in midfield. Carlos Baleba followed him into the referee's book just before the break, receiving a yellow card in the 41st minute.
Liverpool finally broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Curtis Jones latched onto a precise pass from Miloš Kerkez. He then skillfully slotted the ball past the Brighton goalkeeper, sending the home crowd into raptures at Anfield.
The solitary goal gave Liverpool a deserved lead at half-time. Brighton's manager would have demanded a more disciplined and incisive performance from his side. Liverpool, meanwhile, aimed to maintain control and extend their advantage further.
The Reds started the second half with renewed purpose. Dominik Szoboszlai extended their lead in the 56th minute. Mohamed Salah provided a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Szoboszlai to fire home from close range with conviction.
Brighton attempted to change their fortunes with multiple substitutions in the 62nd minute. Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma, and Youssouf Minteh entered the fray. However, their efforts were immediately hampered as Joel Veltman van Hecke received a yellow card in the 67th minute for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Just a minute later, Liverpool put the game beyond doubt. Mohamed Salah calmly converted a penalty in the 68th minute. This clinical strike confirmed Liverpool's dominance and secured a comfortable three-goal lead.
Despite Brighton having 52% possession and 16 total shots, Liverpool proved more efficient. The home side registered 5 shots on target from 13 attempts, converting three of them. Alisson Becker also made 3 crucial saves to maintain his clean sheet.
