FA Cup: Liverpool 3-0 Brighton — Salah, Szoboszlai and Jones seal straightforward Anfield win
In a commanding display at Anfield, liverpool vs brighton ended 3-0 as Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah delivered a comfortable FA Cup fourth-round victory that comfortably booked the Reds' place in round five.
First-half breakthrough and Liverpool control
The match began with Brighton showing confidence in possession and probing Liverpool’s backline, but clear chances were scarce for the visitors. Liverpool found their rhythm as the first half progressed and imposed more intensity on the game. The breakthrough came just before half-time when a quick move down the left saw a low cross fizz into the six-yard box and Curtis Jones arrived unmarked to side-foot home the underside of the bar. The strike was Jones’s first of the season and rewarded a sustained spell of pressure that had begun to tilt the tie in Liverpool’s favour.
Brighton responded immediately with two promising moments, including a close-range header that flew over and a late one-on-one that tested Liverpool’s goalkeeper, but the hosts reached the interval with the slender advantage they had earned.
Second-half polish: Szoboszlai wonder and Salah finish
The second half saw Liverpool build on that foundation. Dominik Szoboszlai produced a stunning individual effort to double the lead, unleashing a strike that gave the away defence no answer and left the Anfield crowd celebrating a goal of real quality. The midfielder’s latest contribution underlined his growing goal threat and influence in the side.
Later, Mohamed Salah added the gloss from the penalty spot after Liverpool’s sustained pressure forced an infringement in the box. The Egypt international had already been a creative force, providing a sublime assist earlier in the match and combining defensive work-rate with attacking invention — a combination praised by the manager after the game.
There was a late sting for Brighton when a substitute appeared to score, but the effort was chalked off for offside, leaving the final score at 3-0 and Liverpool safely through.
Tactical takeaways and what comes next
The result will be taken as a timely boost for Liverpool. The team showed the stronger intensity in key moments and greater depth across the squad, with versatile performances from players asked to fill unfamiliar roles. Defensive solidity, combined with moments of individual brilliance from Szoboszlai and creativity from Salah, provided the platform Liverpool needed to control the tie.
Brighton, led by their young manager, offered encouraging glimpses of possession play and pressing structure but remain short of cutting end-product; this match extended their run without a goal in successive fixtures and raises fresh questions about where goals will come from. The visitors’ confidence on the ball and organisation were positive, yet the lack of a consistent threat in the final third ultimately decided their fate at Anfield.
For Liverpool, progression in the FA Cup will allow the squad to press forward with momentum and provides further opportunity for rotation as fixtures accumulate. Brighton will regroup and attempt to convert the foundations they showed into goals and points in upcoming fixtures.
Key performers: Curtis Jones provided an energetic, decisive attacking contribution; Dominik Szoboszlai produced a moment of real quality to shape the match; Mohamed Salah combined creativity, defensive work-rate and a composed penalty to finish the scoring.
