How Brighton players rated at Anfield - Logan Macleod
Brighton exited the FA Cup at the fourth round as Curtis Jones paved the way for Liverpool’s progress into the fifth round with a 3-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield.
Jones ghosted into the six-yard box to cleverly divert Milos Kerkez’s close into the roof of the net late in the first half.
Another Dominik Szoboszlai special for his fifth goal in his last eight matches, taking him into double figures for the season, was followed by Mohamed Salah’s penalty for only his second goal for the club since November 1 and just his seventh of the campaign.
For Brighton, their poor run continues as Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez missed excellent chances to get them back in the game.
Here’s how they rated...
Jason Steele: Good save to deny a marauding Kerkez in the first half. Nothing he could do for either goal as Jones tapped in from a couple of yards out, Szoboszlai's shot flew into the corner and Salah smashed his penalty into the top corner. Clinical finishing from Liverpool. 6/10
Joël Veltman: Steady performance. Kept his man Gakpo quiet throughout. Doesn't offer much going forward but is solid in defence. Gakpo tried his luck on the other flank with 10 minutes to go. 6/10
Lewis Dunk: Stepped into midfield well and created a goal-scoring opportunity for Gomez who couldn't finish, went incredibly close at the back post with a diving header but Alisson stood up to the test to deny an equaliser; couldn't slide quick enough to stop Szoboszlai for the second. Some good defending in his own box but Liverpool were just too clinical. 6/10
Jan Paul van Hecke: Not tested much by his man Chiesa. Had a relatively quiet game, didn't do much on the ball or off the ball. Off for Boscagli 70'. 6/10
Ferdi Kadioglu: Good battle with Salah throughout. Fair to say he lost the battle as he was beaten by Salah a few times for pace and strength, with one leading to Salah winning a penalty. Pocketed Salah in his last appearance here but was unable to do so tonight. 5/10
Carlos Baleba: Solid overall defensive midfield performance. Nothing groundbreaking but did the basics well in terms of all-round game: pressing, simple passes, winning free kicks, tackling. Kept Wirtz quiet. Was booked for a clumsy tackle on Mac Allister. Hooked on 60 minutes for Mitoma. 6/10
Pascal Gross: Marking his old team-mate Mac Allister, struggled to impact the game in an attacking sense. Kept the ball well at times but was unable to really make any penetrative passes. Gave away a pen dragging down Salah which killed any hope of Brighton making a comeback. Gave the Albion crowd something to cheer when he did his signature Gross turn in the 84th minute. 5/10
Jack Hinshelwood: Quiet game. Struggled to make any impact on the game, crowded out often. Had a good chance with a header just before HT but was unable to direct it goalbound. Off for Wieffer late in the second half. 5/10
Harry Howell: Big night for the 17-year-old. Created space well early on. Lost his duels and was bullied off it a lot of the time. Failed to stop the cross from Kerkez which led to Liverpool's first goal. Off for Minteh 60'. 5/10
Diego Gomez: A what-could-have-been evening. Made a good run to break through Liverpool's defence and flash a cross across the face of goal but no one on the end to tap it in. Should have levelled just before HT but struck a poor effort right at Alisson. Chances like that need to be finished to have any chance of getting anything at Anfield. Came off for Rutter 60'. 5/10
Charalampos Kostoulas: Tough night up against Konate and Van Dijk, didn't get any change out of either of them. Showed some nice touches in tight spaces but overall couldn't impact the game. 5/10
Kaoru Mitoma: Very quiet half an hour**. 5/10**
Yankuba Minteh: Poor final ball multiple times. 5/10
Georginio Rutter: Went close with minutes to go with an effort on the edge of the box but couldn't get it on target. Summed up Albion's night, frustrating, lacking quality in the final third. 5/10
Olivier Boscagli: Game was away from Brighton when he came on. Couldn't make an impact. 5/10
Continue Reading