Arne Slot‘s selection paid off as Liverpool eased to a 3-0 win over Brighton, asserting their intentions to go deep into the FA Cup.
The Reds outclassed the Seagulls on Saturday evening, with goals from Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah taking them into the FA Cup fifth round.
Here, Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) and The Redmen TV’s Dan Clubbe (@dan_clubbe) dissect a positive night at Anfield and look ahead to Nottingham Forest next weekend.
Did Arne Slot take a gamble with his selection?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
DAN: Slot took far less of a risk than I thought he might, in terms of strength of the starting XI.
If anything, the gamble felt as though it came in the shape of risking a couple of key players.
Obviously, the FA Cup has taken on a new level of importance, given where we are at elsewhere, but the recent workload and how tired we’ve looked at times made me think he would rotate more.
It’s amazing what winning can do for the energy levels, so hopefully, those fruitful hard yards mean we’re more equipped for what is to come.
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scored his fifth goal in his last eight games (Peter Byrne/PA)
HENRY: I thought the team was pretty solid, in fairness.
The right fringe players were given a chance, but I would’ve liked to see Rio get a start. That disallowed goal is still irking me!
There is enough time between matches to go with a strong team and start key man – there is an eight-day gap before Nottingham Forest – as well as retain a rhythm.
I really enjoyed that performance – Jones, Kerkez, Sozboszlai and Salah were all fantastic.
As Dan says, a couple of wins just gives you that injection of belief and happiness.
Is the FA Cup now a priority this season?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
DAN: It’s 100 percent a priority.
What will be, will be in the Champions League – a strong headwind, individual moments and a bit of good fortune thrown in, then who knows.
Finishing in the top four in the Premier League will need more consistency from us, but for a squad with this much quality and this many winners, FA Cup glory is absolutely achievable.
It would go a long way towards being able to call the season a success.
Mohamed Salah thumped the Liverpool crest after scoring from the penalty spot (Peter Byrne/PA)
HENRY: The FA Cup has clearly lost its prestige compared to in the past.
My dad has said the winner of the competition used to be remembered more than the league champions, which is mad in the current climate.
But beggars can’t be choosers, and with our title hopes gone and a Champions League win unlikely – not impossible! – it is far more important than it was in August.
Qualifying for the Champions League takes precedence, but if Virg is hoisting the FA Cup aloft in May, nobody will be complaining one bit!
I’d love to rob Arsenal of a trophy at Wembley!
What needs to be worked on in the week before Forest?
DAN: A few weeks ago, I would have dreaded this trip, worrying about set pieces, their physicality, Morgan Gibbs-White, you name it.
It felt like we had seen more achilles heels from Liverpool than an Olympic physio!
But now in many ways, it needs to be more of the same from the last two performances. Sunderland was the blueprint for going to tricky away grounds and coming out on top.
Combine that guile with some more of the ruthlessness we’ve seen against Newcastle and Brighton, and whilst we’re far from perfect, in particular out of possession, we should be able to do a job.
Famous last words, aren’t they?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the third goal during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
HENRY: I totally agree with Dan – just try and copy Sunderland away, in terms of control and quietening a boisterous home crowd.
We are playing Forest at a pretty good time, and clearly have the quality to beat them, so it’s just a case of avoiding the sloppy, weak performances of earlier in the season.
The Reds’ next three league games are Forest (away), West Ham (home) and Wolves (away), which is a wonderful chance of maximum points.
This newfound momentum has to keep building, and then we can start dreaming of a great end to the season.
But there’s no need to get carried away yet!