Liverpool demonstrate their FA Cup intent with big win over Brighton | OneFootball

Anfield witnessed a statement of intent on Saturday as Liverpool brushed aside Brighton 3-0 to secure their place in the FA Cup fifth round with goals from Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Mo Salah.

Having been dumped out by Plymouth last season with a second-string side, Arne Slot left nothing to chance this time. His team selection, featuring the likes of Salah and Virgil van Dijk, underscored exactly how highly he values the competition this year.

The breakthrough came via an unlikely source in an unfamiliar role. Jones, playing at right-back, arrived late into the six-yard box to turn home a magnificent cross from Milos Kerkez.

The left-back was arguably the best player on the pitch, silenced early season critics with a performance defined by direct running and undefendable deliveries. While an earlier Cody Gakpo header was ruled out for offside, there was no denying the quality of Liverpool’s opener.

The second half belonged to Dominik Szoboszlai, who continues to justify his manager’s description of being “ridiculously good.” The move of the match saw Gakpo ping a cross-field ball to Salah, who cushioned a first-time touch into the path of the charging Hungarian.

Szoboszlai didn’t break stride, smashing an emphatic finish across Jason Steele for his 10th goal of the campaign. It was a goal of pure technical brilliance that effectively ended Brighton’s hopes of an upset.

Brighton’s frustrations boiled over when Salah went down under a challenge from Pascal Gross. Despite protests from the visitors that Salah had fouled Kadioglu in the build up, the referee remained unmoved.

Salah stepped up and dispatched the penalty with the clinical power of a man full of confidence, rifling it into the top-right corner.

For all the talk of their struggles earlier in the season, there is clearly plenty of life left in this squad. As the final whistle blew, Anfield celebrated a team that looks increasingly capable of a deep run in this competition as they progressed into the fifth round.