Paul Gorst's verdict from Anfield as Liverpool win 3-0 against Brighton to secure a fifth-round place in the FA Cup
Arne Slot saw his side ease past Brighton
Arne Slot saw his side ease past Brighton(Image: Getty Images)
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If an apparently restless Arne Slot admitted to sleepless nights before this FA Cup visit from Brighton, the Liverpool boss will at least rest easy for the remainder of his weekend.
And with a full week now to strategise for the visit to Nottingham Forest next Sunday, he has a rare luxury of a one-game week as the quest for Champions League qualification returns to centre stage.
Definitive statements about 'turning a corner' have often come back to bite this term, but a hugely positive few days - against Sunderland on Wednesday and now the Seagulls - might just be enough to see some whisper it quietly once more.
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A 3-0 triumph here at Anfield was secured in ultimately routine fashion as goals from Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah put paid to Fabian Hurzeler's hopes of lifting the gloom around his club just now. The hosts were even able to have two ruled out in either half for Cody Gakpo and teenage winger Rio Ngumoha and a fifth-round place never really looked in doubt.
Having seen the right-back spot apparently become cursed this season, Slot's latest incumbent, Jones, went some way towards redressing the imbalance with the opening goal on his first start of the campaign in the backline.
Slot has tended to utilise Szoboszlai out of position whenever Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley have been unavailable and while the smart money was on the Hungary captain reprising a role that is becoming increasingly familiar on his return from suspension, the head coach sprung a tactical surprise by handing Jones his first start for a month, in the defensive spot.
And it was his fellow full-back for the night, Milos Kerkez, who supplied him three minutes before the break. The £40m summer signing's delivery was inch perfect and was given the finish it deserved from Jones, who swept home. Kerkez is growing in stature by the week and this was another performance that spoke to that.
It's unlikely to be a permanent solution for Slot to play Jones there regularly but it was a ploy that came up trumps here. And for the player himself, who is keen for more game-time, it is maybe a route to more consistent football in the short term, with Bradley, Frimpong and Wataru Endo all on the shelf.
The switch also allowed Szoboszlai the chance to play in his preferred position and the all-action No.8 didn't disappoint, smashing home a superbly-worked second before the hour mark for his 10th of the campaign. Only Hugo Ekitike has more.
Szoboszlai has been the Reds' standout player by some distance this season and while his malfunction against Barnsley was the talking point of the previous round in these parts, his highlight reel was far more polished this time out.
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The former RB Leipzig man is said to harbour aspirations to captain this club one day and his performances this season have led by example. Talks over that new deal go on but it is one sporting director Richard Hughes has to get over the line. "He is one of the best players in the world right now," said Salah of his colleague at full time. It's hard to provide a counterpoint.
Salah scored just his third goal since the start of November with a penalty after he had tied the Brighton defence up in knots to win the spot kick itself and this was a very good outing for the Egyptian. All feels right in Slot's world, if only for a few days. It's no wonder he will be sleeping soundly.
But the debate, as it always does with this competition, will continue rage as to its importance to Liverpool. There is no denying it sits considerably higher up the priority list than last year, however, when a much-changed Reds side were beaten by Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.
It was an embarrassing result but with the Premier League title firmly in the collective gaze at the time - and a Carabao Cup final appearance on the horizon - the reaction was pretty much an apathetic shrug to that 1-0 loss.
This season feels different. It has the potential to salvage things should the Reds fall short in their Champions League chase. For Slot, it may even offer salvation, depending on how much weight is given to this competition in the Boston boardroom of owners Fenway Sports Group.
After all, it would seem ludicrous for him to be relieved of his duties should he end his second season at Anfield having brought home the Premier League and the FA Cup. For now, though, that debate can stay on ice.
The fifth round awaits and Liverpool's season continues to be played out on three fronts. That, for all the problems encountered this season, feels noteworthy in mid-February.
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