Liverpool 3-0 Brighton: Salah back on the scoresheet as Reds reach FA Cup fifth round
Liverpool produced one of their strongest displays of the season at Anfield on Saturday night (ET), defeating Brighton 3-0 in the FA Cup fourth round. Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah scored as the Reds advanced to the fifth round, while Brighton’s run of poor form extended with no wins in their last five outings.
Comfortable control and decisive moments
The game settled into Liverpool’s favour as the first half progressed. An early Cody Gakpo header from a Dominik Szoboszlai free kick was initially celebrated but ruled out for offside. That disappointment proved brief: just five minutes later Jones — filling in at right-back — converted a low cross from Milos Kerkez to open the scoring, tapping home from close range.
Brighton began the second half with intent and forced Alisson into a fine save to deny Lewis Dunk what looked a certain equaliser. Liverpool responded swiftly. The decisive second goal arrived from a sweeping move that highlighted both width and quick transition: Kerkez shifted play to Mohamed Salah, who cushioned the ball into Szoboszlai’s path; the Hungary midfielder smashed a powerful finish past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 and effectively kill the contest.
Any faint hope of a Brighton comeback was extinguished when Pascal Groß tripped Salah inside the box. Salah steadied and drilled the resulting penalty into the net to complete a composed night for Liverpool and secure a 3-0 victory.
Slot praises Szoboszlai, Jones and squad intensity
Manager Arne Slot highlighted the balance he is seeing from his squad, praising Szoboszlai’s growing goal threat and the team’s defensive intensity. Slot argued that the match suited Liverpool’s style of pressing and quick transitions, and he singled out Szoboszlai as a player who has improved markedly since his arrival, adding goals and helping defend from midfield.
On Curtis Jones’s performance at right-back, Slot underlined the midfielder’s versatility and readiness to step into the role when required, noting the positive contribution Jones made both offensively and defensively. Szoboszlai, who finished the evening with a goal and an assist, stressed his desire to keep producing for the team: "I just want to keep going and score as many as I can. " The manager also pointed to the squad’s ability to maintain intensity across fixtures, suggesting Liverpool are better positioned now to sustain demanding performances every three days.
What it means next for both clubs
The victory puts Liverpool into the FA Cup fifth-round draw on Monday (ET), where the club will learn their next opponent. For Liverpool, the cup provides a clear chance to regain momentum and add silverware to a season that has at times looked inconsistent; Saturday’s result marked only the third time this campaign the side has produced back-to-back domestic wins.
Brighton, meanwhile, must confront a slide in results and regroup quickly. The Seagulls showed glimpses, including the early second-half effort that tested Liverpool’s goalkeeper, but lacked the cutting edge and defensive solidity to overturn the deficit. The cup exit compounds a run without victory stretching to five matches.
For Liverpool supporters, the win will be measured as both a statement of intent under Slot and a reminder of the squad depth that can be called upon when the team needs energy and invention. For Brighton, the immediate focus will be on finding consistency and rediscovering form across competitions.
