Liverpool earned a 3-0 victory over Brighton to move into the FA Cup fifth round.
Steve Nicol saluted the performance if Milos Kerkez in Liverpool’s victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Reds delivered a 3-0 win to advance into the FA Cup fifth round. Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mo Salah (penalty) were on target for Arne Slot’s side at Anfield.
Liverpool’s breakthrough arrived in the 42nd minute when Kerkez’s excellent cross picked out Jones at the back post. Kerkez, returning to the starting line-up, had an effort tipped over the crossbar just moments earlier and was highly impressive.
Having signed for £40 million from AFC Bournemouth in the summer transfer window, the Hungary international endured a difficult start to his Reds career. But he has made good progress in recent weeks.
The main challenge for Liverpool for the remainder of the season is to finish in the Premier League top five and qualify for the Champions League. Nicol, who won five English titles and the European Cup with the Reds, believes that can be achieved if his former club can now convince they’ve found consistency.
Speaking on ESPN, Nicol said: “Liverpool were dominant. They were the team on the front foot, they were creating, putting pressure on the opposition, got the three goals; it's the kind of performance you hopes to see more often this season - but the kind of performance we have kind of expected from Liverpool all season. Hopefully this is the start if some consistent performances.If they can produce from now until the end of the season then they will qualify for the Champions League, in my opinion.
“I know I have been critical of Kerkez and for the majority of this season, he has been a problem in the back four. He has not been effective for Liverpool, either in an attacking sense or a defensive sense and we have mentioned it on more than one occasion.
“It's only right to say he was fantastic. He was a terrier defensively, in good positions, got close to people, won the ball back and going forward, he almost scored with a cracking volley and set Curtis Jones up. What we saw from Kerkez is 100 per cent the player we thought Liverpool were getting. Let's hope he has taken a step forward and he can get close to that performance every time he steps on the field. If he does, not just me but every Liverpool fan will be more than pleased.”
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