On a chilly February night at Anfield, Liverpool delivered a statement performance, dispatching Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 to advance to the FA Cup fifth round—a feat they’ve managed just four times in the last 11 seasons. For a club with Liverpool’s storied history, that’s a surprising statistic, but this dominant display suggests the Reds are determined to make this year’s cup run count.
Arne Slot, keenly aware of the FA Cup’s significance given Liverpool’s faltering Premier League defense, fielded a near full-strength lineup. Only Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch, regular starters, were rested, with Ekitike making a late cameo. The message from Slot was clear: no risks, no experiments—this was a must-win, and the players responded accordingly.
The opening stages saw Liverpool control possession, with Dominik Szoboszlai pulling the strings in midfield. The Hungarian’s energy and vision were on full display, and it was his fizzed free-kick that nearly broke the deadlock when Cody Gakpo headed home, only for the assistant referee’s flag to deny the goal for offside. That near-miss seemed to jolt Liverpool into action, sparking a sustained spell of pressure.
It was Curtis Jones, the academy graduate whose future has been the subject of recent speculation, who finally broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Filling in as an emergency right-back due to Liverpool’s ongoing defensive crisis, Jones found himself in the right place at the right time. Milos Kerkez, the £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth, whipped in a precise cross, and Jones timed his run perfectly to fire home from six yards. The goal ended a 57-game drought for Jones, who last netted in December 2024 against Leicester City. Talk about a timely reminder of his quality!
"Jones hadn’t started any of Liverpool’s previous six matches, but he earned a recall against Brighton as he became the latest square peg to fill a round hole," noted James Pearce. With his contract set to expire in 2027 and no extension yet agreed, this performance may well have given both player and club plenty to consider ahead of the summer.
Brighton, to their credit, began the second half with renewed intent. But any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 56th minute by a goal that will surely feature in every FA Cup highlight reel this weekend. The move began with Cody Gakpo on the halfway line, who released Kerkez down the left. The Serbian overlapped seamlessly, pulling Brighton’s defense out of shape, before the ball found its way to Mohamed Salah on the right. Salah, never one to waste an opportunity, delivered a perfectly weighted first-time pass into the path of Szoboszlai, who had ghosted into the box unnoticed.
Without breaking stride, Szoboszlai unleashed a thunderous shot into the top corner, leaving Brighton’s goalkeeper Jason Steele with no chance. It was his 10th goal of the season—a remarkable return for a player who’s split time between central midfield and right-back. "When you not only consider the struggles his side have had this season but also the fact he has often played right-back, it’s a very impressive return," wrote one match analyst.
For Szoboszlai, this goal was more than just a statistic. His last FA Cup appearance at Anfield saw him apologizing to teammates for a costly error against Barnsley, and he’d missed the previous match due to a red card against Manchester City. But on this night, all was forgiven and forgotten. He ran the show from midfield, showing why many fans and pundits are tipping him as a future Reds captain—if, as he’s stated, he extends his Liverpool career amid ongoing contract talks.
"There have been times this season where Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s best right-back and best central midfielder at the same time. Here, he was deployed in the middle, and he simply ran the show," reported the match coverage. The Hungarian’s resurgence has been a major storyline for Liverpool, and with performances like this, he’s become undroppable.
Liverpool’s third came in the 68th minute, when Salah, already with an assist to his name, coolly slotted home a penalty to put the result beyond doubt. It was his most eye-catching display since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, and his influence was felt all over the pitch. The home crowd roared their approval, sensing that the team’s focus on the FA Cup could yield silverware this season.
Defensively, Liverpool were solid. The backline, marshaled by Kerkez on the left and Jones on the right, kept Brighton at bay for much of the match. The clean sheet was Liverpool’s second in a row—the first time they’ve managed back-to-back shutouts since mid-December. Substitute Rio Ngumoha thought he’d added a fourth late on, but his well-taken goal was ruled out for offside. Still, the mood around Anfield was buoyant as the final whistle blew.
The contrast with last season’s FA Cup fourth-round exit to Plymouth Argyle couldn’t be starker. Back then, Liverpool fielded a shadow squad and crashed out meekly, able to shrug off the disappointment thanks to their Premier League form. This time, with the league title out of reach, the cup represents one of their few remaining shots at glory. Slot’s decision to go full-strength paid off handsomely.
Special mention must go to Milos Kerkez, whose energy and attacking threat down the left flank have added a new dimension to Liverpool’s play. His assist for Jones’ opener was his second in three games, and his defensive composure has improved markedly in recent weeks. "He exuded energy at Anfield, and got his just reward with a lovely first-time cross to set up Jones for the opening goal," observed Dan Sheldon. For a player who took several months to settle, Kerkez is now showing exactly why Liverpool invested so heavily in him.
Looking ahead, Liverpool’s next challenge comes on February 22, when they travel to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. With momentum building and key players hitting form, there’s a sense of optimism returning to Anfield. The FA Cup run is alive and well, and on this evidence, Liverpool will take some stopping.
As the fans filed out into the Merseyside night, there was a feeling that something special could be brewing in the red half of the city. With Szoboszlai, Salah, and Jones all delivering when it mattered, and Slot showing real intent in his team selections, Liverpool’s pursuit of silverware is very much back on track.