There were improved performances from pretty much everyone in red, led by the impressive Hungarians and a return to form of Liverpool’s star man.
Liverpool 3-0 Brighton
FA Cup Fourth Round | Anfield
February 14, 2026
Goals: Jones 42′, Szoboszlai 56′, Salah (pen) 68′
Alisson – 7 (out of 10)
Had been relatively untroubled and left fairly inactive in the cold Anfield conditions, but maintained enough warmth and concentration to make a good save from Diego Gomez just before halftime.
There was a slightly worrying moment when Gomez charged down one of his attempted clearances, but the ball went clear of the goal for a goal kick.
Not much for the Brazilian to do, and in hindsight, it might have been good to give Giorgi Mamardashvili a night between the posts.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Curtis Jones – 9
Back in the starting lineup for this cup game, performing the designated right-back role on this occasion, allowing Szoboszlai to remain in midfield.
Opened the scoring with a close-range finish that was more difficult to control than perhaps it looked. The technique was sound, though, and the goal was scored following his run inside from right-back.
Slipped to allow Diego Gomez in, giving Alisson something to do, which was nice of him.
Moved up into the No. 10 spot in the second half, demonstrating his valuable versatility.
Ibrahima Konate – 7
Cleared a danger well after Lewis Dunk’s header was diverted by Alisson, but didn’t have to be involved much other than that.
Did what he had to do well, though.
Virgil van Dijk – 7
Neither he nor Konate had much to do, a relief for Arne Slot, and Brighton striker Charalampos Kostoulas didn’t trouble them at all.
The captain played a few good long passes to get things going forward when required.
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)
Milos Kerkez – 9 (Man of the Match)
Showed a couple of great touches, one of which was taken as he showed the willingness and ability to get forward onto the end of a Van Dijk pass, sitting a few players down before shooting and then being flagged for offside.
Was involved in another similar move from a Mac Allister pass, forcing a save from Jason Steele.
Played a great ball across for Jones’s goal, having been sent on the overlap by Mac Allister’s pass.
Led by example, also getting involved in a few scuffles, but is now more composed in all areas of the game than in his early performances.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 8
Nice free-kick delivery for the goal scored by Gakpo, but, like a few good Liverpool moments in this game, he was flagged offside.
Executed a typically well-struck finish for the second goal. Once he was running onto the ball in that position, there would only be one outcome.
He’s now in double figures for goals for the first time as a Liverpool player.
Full of confidence and understandably so, given some of his recent performances.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scores the second goal during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alexis Mac Allister – 8
Neat and tidy in the centre of the park and more involved in good things than in recent weeks.
Finished the game with the joint-most touches in the Liverpool team, along with Jones.
A good, encouraging performance.
Mohamed Salah – 9
Enjoyed his battle with Brighton left-back Ferdi Kadioglu, especially as he came out on top on every occasion.
Used a combination of pace and strength to regularly get past the full-back — something he has not always been able to do in recent weeks.
It was a brilliant one-touch, right-footed (checks notes), yes right-footed pass into the path of Szoboszlai for the second goal.
One of his bursts past Kadioglu eventually produced a goalscoring opportunity, albeit via the penalty spot when he was fouled by Pascal Gross.
He got up to emphatically blast the penalty past Steele in front of the Kop.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah touches the badge as he 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)
Florian Wirtz – 7
Showed some of his usual flashes of quality, but these were more fleeting than they had been during his recent run of good form.
Subbed off midway through the second half once Liverpool were 3-0 up.
Cody Gakpo – 7
Played his role on the left reliably and also helped out in defence when needed.
Played a good long ball out to Salah ahead of the second goal and was congratulated by his teammates for his contribution.
A bit of an improvement on some of his other displays this season.
Federico Chiesa – 7
Worked hard but didn’t stand out as much as he would have liked on one of his rare starts.
Had a chance to get a shot away in the first half, but didn’t manage to strike it cleanly and hit the shot into the ground.
Overall Team Performance – 8
Substitutes
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool substitute Calvin Ramsay on the bench before the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Joe Gomez (on for Wirtz, 71′) – 7 – A few more minutes logged on his return from injury. Good to have him back as an option.
Hugo Ekitike (on for Chiesa, 77′) – 6 – Not heavily involved, was probably wondering, like many others, why he was needed.
Rio Ngumoha (on for Salah, 77′) – 7 – Scored from a move that was called back for offside. A good finish, nevertheless!
Trey Nyoni (on for Jones, 89′) – N/A – Got a few touches and should have come on earlier.
Calvin Ramsay (on for Gakpo, 89′) – N/A – A rare outing, but on the right wing rather than at right-back.
Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Robertson, Gravenberch, Morrison
Arne Slot – 8
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot on the bench before the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ensured progress to the next round with a strong team selection, and perhaps in hindsight could have even mixed it up a bit more, but the cups are now important in a season where the league is already out of sight.
The recently out-of-favour Jones was deployed at right-back to good effect, and there were even some minutes for Ramsay.
He could perhaps have used the youngsters on the bench a bit earlier, and giving Ekitike a run out could have been a risk with the game already won.
But overall, the manager did what needed to be done and got a good performance out of his players.