Match Preview: Liverpool return to FA Cup action against Brighton | OneFootball

Liverpool vs Brighton – FA Cup Preview

Date: Saturday, 14 February 2026

Venue: Anfield

Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Following a hard-fought victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the reigning Premier League champions are afforded a brief pause from the suffocating top-five conversation. For one weekend at least, attention shifts away from league arithmetic and toward something more romantic — the most coveted domestic cup competition in world football.

The FA Cup has history stitched into its fabric. And Liverpool, wounded but proud, will not treat this lightly.

Brighton arrives struggling, uncertain, and inconsistent. Liverpool, meanwhile, has an opportunity — not merely to progress, but to reassert authority in front of their own supporters.

Brighton: Fragile Structure, Dangerous Moments

Brighton’s season has been defined by imbalance. They still carry technical quality and transitional threat, but the defensive organisation has fractured repeatedly. Their build-up remains brave, sometimes admirably so, yet bravery without control can quickly become recklessness — particularly at Anfield under the lights.

They are unlikely to abandon their principles. Brighton will attempt to draw Liverpool forward, circulate through midfield, and create overloads in wide areas. But against a side expected to field a full-strength lineup, that approach carries risk.

If Liverpool presses cohesively, Brighton can be forced into hurried decisions. If they bypass pressure, they possess enough craft to create moments. The key for the visitors will be emotional composure. Concede early at Anfield in a cup tie, and the night can unravel quickly.

This is not the Brighton of controlled ascendancy from previous campaigns. This is a team searching for rhythm.

Liverpool: Full Strength, Full Intent

There will be no rotation theatre here. Liverpool is expected to go full strength — and rightly so. Momentum, however fragile, must be protected. A cup run offers oxygen. It offers a narrative shift. It offers belief.

Dominik Szoboszlai returns from suspension and should walk straight back into the starting eleven. His energy, vertical running, and defensive aggression have been missed. In matches where opponents sit deep, his ability to drive beyond the forward line and attack second phases adds unpredictability.

Florian Wirtz remains the creative reference point. Against Sunderland, he was the thread linking everything coherent in Liverpool’s attacking play. At Anfield, with more space between lines, he should find even greater influence.

Alexis Mac Allister will be tasked with tempo control, while Ryan Gravenberch’s responsibility is to carry the ball with purpose rather than caution. The balance must feel deliberate, not improvised.

Mohamed Salah’s role becomes central in cup fixtures. His ability to decide in single moments remains unmatched. If Brighton’s defensive spacing falters, he will punish it.

At the back, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté must ensure that any Brighton transition is extinguished early. Cup football can turn chaotic without warning. Authority must be imposed, not negotiated.

Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1):

GK – Alisson Becker

RB – Dominik Szoboszlai

CB – Ibrahima Konaté

CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

LB – Milos Kerkez

CM – Alexis Mac Allister

CM – Ryan Gravenberch

AM – Curtis Jones

RW – Mohamed Salah

CF – Hugo Ekitike

LW – Florian Wirtz

Final Word

This is an opportunity disguised as a fixture.

Liverpool can step away from league anxiety and immerse itself in the clarity of knockout football. Win, and belief strengthens. Win well, and narrative softens. Lose, and scrutiny returns with sharper teeth.

At Anfield, under lights, in a competition steeped in tradition, there should be no hesitation. Go strong. Go direct. Go through.

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Liverpool 3 – 1 Brighton