BRIGHTON, England — Liverpool‘s FA Cup defence ended on Sunday as Brighton & Hove Albion scored a stoppage-time winner in an exciting 2-1 victory on the Amex Stadium (stream a replay live on ESPN+, U.S. only.)
Either side noticed pictures blocked off the road within the opening quarter-hour earlier than Harvey Elliott opened the scoring shortly after, slotting dwelling a cross from Mohamed Salah.
Nevertheless, Brighton struck again simply earlier than half-time by a Tariq Lamptey strike which deflected in off Lewis Dunk. Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma hit a late winner, taking down a cross from Pervis Estupinan earlier than firing dwelling and sparking wild celebrations.
JUMP TO: Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Postmatch quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures
Speedy response
1. Liverpool’s troubles proceed, one other trophy probability goes.
Jurgen Klopp has loved a trophy-laden tenure at Liverpool, however his greatest probability of salvaging some silverware this season was within the FA Cup. Properly, that hope is over within the fourth spherical.
Liverpool had been knocked out of the Carabao Cup in December and have dropped to ninth within the Premier League — an alarming 21 factors behind leaders Arsenal, though Klopp one way or the other insisted this week they’d not but given up on the title. Their ultimate hope at glory now lies within the Champions League, however they face a frightening job in acquainted foes Real Madrid within the spherical of 16. All of it makes for grim studying.
They once more appeared lacklustre in Brighton. Liverpool had received all 12 video games this season after they have scored the opening objective, and it going effectively when Elliott netted on half-hour, however that was pretty much as good because it obtained.
Klopp fumed on the touchline for a lot of the sport as Liverpool appeared sloppy, missing in confidence. It is clear to see why. Sunday’s defeat means Liverpool have simply three wins in 9 because the return after the World Cup and the season seems to be operating away from them.
It was after Liverpool’s FA Cup overcome Chelsea final Might that they’d their world at their ft, two video games away from a historic Quadruple, earlier than their hopes had been swiftly dashed by Manchester Metropolis and Actual Madrid. Subsequent month, after they face Madrid for the primary time since that defeat, Liverpool might scarcely look extra totally different.
2. Brighton present high quality as Caicedo hypothesis continues
It has been a tricky week at Brighton. Amid a wonderful run wherein they’ve scored two or extra targets of their earlier six video games — together with a 3-0 trouncing of Liverpool within the Premier League earlier this month – and a push to qualify for European soccer, the Seagulls once more discovered themselves avoiding bids for one among their greatest gamers. This time, it was midfielder Moises Caicedo.
The Ecuador worldwide was lacking for this sport, with sources telling ESPN that Brighton have told the player not to return to training until after the January window as Arsenal and Chelsea each present agency curiosity. On social media, Caicedo has made clear he needs to go away.
Brighton could be forgiven for questioning whether or not they would cope with out him, but they continued to indicate why they’re banging on the door of the highest six.
Brighton misplaced Marc Cucurella to Chelsea and Yves Bissouma to Tottenham final summer time. Then head coach Graham Potter was poached by Chelsea in September and Leandro Trossard, additionally with grander ambitions, compelled a transfer away to Arsenal earlier this month. Via all of it, Brighton have changed, tailored and improved.
Tariq Lamptey flew ahead with tempo and talent from proper again, 2022 World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister appeared assured in the midst of the park subsequent to Pascal Gross, whereas ahead Kaoru Mitoma remained a hazard all through.
A troublesome week ends with a spot within the fifth spherical of the FA Cup and their followers singing “We will Wembley.”
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, FA Cup (U.S.)
3. Salah’s goal-scoring woes proceed
Earlier than the match, Klopp stated Salah has struggled to deal with Liverpool’s front-three change this season, with Sadio Mane being bought to Bayern Munich in the summertime and changed by Darwin Nunez from Benfica and, extra just lately, Cody Gakpo from PSV.
Salah’s struggles continued on Sunday. He appeared full of life all through however couldn’t discover a crowning glory. He noticed an opportunity blocked off the road within the opening 5 minutes, after which ran by one-on-one however dragged his shot broad of the appropriate publish. Within the second half, he once more discovered himself inside Brighton’s penalty field and looking at goalkeeper Jason Steele, however he lacked any ultimate product and noticed the transfer breakdown.
He appeared on the sky and laughed afterward, as if to ask himself what was going unsuitable? Salah’s drought in entrance of objective now stands at 5 video games in all competitions.
It is a difficulty affecting Liverpool’s whole entrance line. Nunez changed objective scorer Elliott on 59 minutes, with Salah and Gakpo saved on to play alongside him, however the new-look trio did not scare Brighton.
Greatest and worst performers
BEST
Kaoru Mitoma, FW, Brighton: Appeared sharp and inventive on Brighton’s left wing, and a becoming scorer for the late winner.
Solly March, MF, Brighton: Summed up all the things Brighton did effectively; vibrant, artistic and direct.
Alexis Mac Allister, MF, Brighton: Whereas Caicedo attracts bids from the Premier League elite, Mac Allister continued to indicate actual high quality by the center.
WORST
Pervis Estupinan, DF, Brighton: Given the troublesome job of pushing excessive up when in assault however needing to defend Salah going the opposite method, and struggled all through. Did present the cross for Mitoma’s winner.
Cody Gakpo, FW, Liverpool: Pedestrian efficiency wherein he hardly ever posed a risk.
Andy Robertson, DF, Liverpool: Very hardly ever pushed ahead, however struggled to maintain March and Lamptey quiet on Brighton’s proper.
Highlights and notable moments
OH. MY. WORD.@kaoru_mitoma with a late stunner for @OfficialBHAFC 🤯#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/R6bfaXSGVW
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 29, 2023
After the match: What the gamers/managers stated
Jurgen Klopp: “We got here right here after a few weeks, which was one of many worst performances in my time right here, so immediately it was a lot better, however nonetheless we conceded two targets from set items.
“So now we closed the gaps the place they handed by final time, however they scored from set items.”
He added: “We nonetheless have house for enchancment. We make steps however we now have to enhance, we now have to go additional on and we are going to try this.”
Roberto de Zerbi: “I believe crucial factor in soccer is blood, coronary heart and balls [spirit]. To progess and turn out to be an excellent crew you need to win this sport, you may suppose it’s good to win the sport, however it isn’t like this. If we wish to turn out to be larger, however you need to perceive the sport and it’s extra essential the advance.
“We’re an excellent crew. We’re not like Manchester Metropolis, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool or Chelsea. We’re not the identical degree, however we wish to enhance, to combat within the final a part of the season.”
Key stats (supplied by ESPN Stats & Info analysis)
– Harvey Elliott has scored Liverpool’s final two FA Cup targets, scoring the winner in opposition to Wolves of their third spherical replay on Jan. 17. The objective in opposition to Brighton was the 850th in all competitions underneath Klopp’s administration.
– Elliott is the one participant to characteristic in all 31 of Liverpool’s video games this season.
– Liverpool had received all 12 video games this season when scoring the opening objective of the sport, a report now damaged by Brighton.
– Mitoma now has six targets in his final 10 video games in all competitions after failing to attain in his first 9 video games for Brighton
Up subsequent
Brighton: Subsequent up it is a south-coast derby as Brighton welcome struggling Bournemouth to the Amex on Saturday, earlier than they face arch rivals Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Feb. 11.
Liverpool: Klopp will tackle Wolves for the third time in lower than a month when Liverpool go to Molineux on Saturday, then on Feb. 13 it is the small matter of the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
