liverpool vs brighton: Salah, Szoboszlai and Jones fire Reds into FA Cup fifth round
Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones all found the net as Liverpool produced a commanding 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth round at Anfield on Saturday night (ET). The result sends the Reds into round five and offered a timely showing of attacking threat and squad depth.
Match summary: Jones sets the tone, Szoboszlai stuns and Salah seals it
The tie was cagey in the opening exchanges but Liverpool began to dominate possession and territory as the first half progressed. Curtis Jones broke the deadlock just before half-time when a dangerous low cross from the left was swept into the six-yard area and the midfielder arrived unmarked to steer the ball home, giving Liverpool a deserved lead at the interval.
Brighton had moments of threat—an early corner forced a headed chance which flashed wide and Diego Gómez was denied by a sharp low save from the Liverpool goalkeeper late in the first half—but they could not convert pressure into goals.
The second half saw Liverpool extend their advantage. Dominik Szoboszlai produced a spectacular strike from distance that left the crowd and the visitors with little hope, doubling the lead and providing a clear highlight of the evening. Later, Mohamed Salah combined creativity and composure: he teed up team-mates with a brilliant pass and converted a penalty to wrap up the scoring. A late effort from Brighton was disallowed for offside, leaving the final score 3-0.
Tactical takeaways and squad notes
Managerial selection and in-game adjustments were central to Liverpool’s control. The side showed greater intensity and sharper movement as the match progressed, with deeper defensive work from advanced attackers helping to suffocate Brighton’s chances on the break. One notable feature was the flexibility of certain squad members, with one midfielder filling in at right-back and delivering a confident performance.
Szoboszlai’s contribution underlined his growing influence in Liverpool’s midfield; goalscoring from that position has become more frequent and the team looks to be getting stronger returns from its creative core. Salah’s penalty and earlier assist emphasised his renewed form and all-round contribution since returning from international duty. For Brighton, the result highlighted a broader problem: control in possession and a lack of cutting edge in the final third left them searching for answers under pressure.
Looking ahead
Liverpool advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup and will take confidence from a night when attacking options combined effectively and rotation did not dent performance. The win offers momentum as the congested schedule continues and tests squad depth over the coming weeks. Brighton, meanwhile, face questions about attacking consistency after a third successive game without a goal, and will need to find solutions quickly to halt a worrying run.
Overall, the result at Anfield was a clear statement from Liverpool: when tempo, creativity and finishing align, the Reds can turn pressure into a routine cup progression.
