Liverpool eased into the FA Cup fifth round with a comprehensive performance against Brighton on Saturday.
Having bowed out of the Premier League title race months ago, the cup represents a real chance for Arne Slot to pick up a trophy this season.
The Seagulls are never an easy team to get the better of, but with Fabian Hurzeler resting a number of his biggest hitters, Liverpool never looked like losing this one. Here’s how we rated the players on a good night for the Reds.
Who gets your vote for man of the match in an excellent win over Brighton, and why?
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Curtis Jones points to the Anfield stand in celebration during Liverpool's FA Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
Defence
Alisson Becker: 6 – Surprisingly started ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili for a rare FA Cup appearance. Made a brilliant one-on-one save from Diego Gomez to justify his selection but almost let Brighton back into it with two sloppy clearances. A mixed bag.
Curtis Jones: 7 – Started at right-back after several weeks with limited game time and looked a touch rusty initially. Grew into the game, with one excellent long-range left-footed strike going close and then finished fantastically from a pinpoint Milos Kerkez cross to open the scoring. Not perfect, but took his goal with aplomb and provided a different option on the right side.
Ibrahima Konate: 5 – After his monstrous showing against Sunderland in midweek this was a quieter night at the office for Konate, but he did his duties well enough.
Virgil van Dijk: 7 – Was Liverpool’s best player early on as his teammates failed to fully settle in the game. Led by example, with one last-ditch bit of defending after a Jones slip particularly impressive.
Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
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Milos Kerkez: 8 **(Man of the Match)**– Kerkez has been terrific recently and after missing Wednesday’s trip to Sunderland he looked determined to prove another point. Showed off his speed more than once, getting in behind brilliantly to force a good save from Jason Steele in the first-half. Did amazingly well to whip a first time ball across for Jones to score the opener. The £40m man was diligent in defence, a threat going forward and quite comfortably Liverpool’s best player.
Midfield
Alexis Mac Allister: 5 – Typically sluggish start from Mac Allister who couldn’t get into the game in midfield. Did better as the game progressed but was by no means Liverpool’s standout midfielder.
Dominik Szoboszlai: 7 – Unusually anonymous first half showing from Szoboszlai after being restored to his favoured midfield position. Got better, starting with a brilliant whipped free-kick for Cody Gakpo to score but the Dutchman was offside. Stepped up second half and slammed in a sumptuous finish to put Liverpool 2-0 up.
Into the fifth round! Could that be our most complete display of the season?
It's right up there!
Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah celebrate after Szoboszlai scores for Liverpool in the FA Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield (Creidt: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC.
Florian Wirtz: 5 – Started well, but faded from the game and was outshone by some of his teammates. First to be substituted with 20 minutes left to play.
Attack
Mohamed Salah: 8 – One brilliantly taken touch from a long Alisson pass set the tone as Salah looked much more assured in his play. Generally looked brighter with one really encouraging moment where he beat Ferdi Kadioglu for pace down the wing followed by a perfect volleyed assist to set up Szoboszlai to score. Gave Kadioglu problems all night, breezing past him to win and then score a much-needed penalty goal. Back to something much closer to his best.
Federico Chiesa: 5 – Chosen as Liverpool’s central striker and was a reliably busy presence in attack and tracking back without ever really threatening. Didn’t really take his chance.
FBL-ENG-FACUP-LIVERPOOL-BRIGHTON
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
Cody Gakpo: 4 – Bizarrely blocked a goal-bound Milos Kerkez strike in front of the goalkeeper which rather summed up his current form. Again showed better variety in going outside his full-back but to no real avail. Had the ball in the net but was rightly called offside.
Substitutes
Joe Gomez: 5 – Another solid substitutes showing from Gomez who continues his return from injury. Won one important header late on.
Hugo Ekitike: 5 – A quiet 10-minute run-out from Ekitike who may have benefitted more from the rest.
Rio Ngumoha: 6 – Had the ball in the net but was potentially wrongly ruled to be offside from Gakpo’s pass. Finished well regardless and looked lively.
Trey Nyoni: N/A – No time to make an impact.
Calvin Ramsay: N/A – Nice to see the right back get on, but not enough time to make any impact.
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