Arne Slot deserves praise as Liverpool beat Brighton

After every week that hinted at revival and renewed momentum, Liverpool have been offered with a possibility to show promise into progress. The FA Cup might not carry the burden of a league marketing campaign, however in a season of fluctuating type, it represents readability — a tangible path to silverware.

Towards a Brighton aspect that loved extra of the ball and fired extra pictures, Liverpool delivered one thing way more necessary: management of the decisive moments.

The Beginning Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Alisson Becker

• RB – Curtis Jones

• CB – Abraham

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Milos Kerkez

• CM – Alexis Mac Allister

• CM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• RW – Mohamed Salah

• AM – Florian Wirtz

• LW – Cody Gakpo

• CF – Federico Chiesa

Substitutes Used

Joe Gomez → Florian Wirtz (70’)

Rio Ngumoha → Federico Chiesa (76′)

Hugo Ekitike → Mohamed Salah (76′)

Trey Nyoni → Curtis Jones (88′)

Calvin Ramsay → Cody Gakpo (88’)

3 – For simply the third time in his Liverpool profession (428 video games), Mohamed Salah has scored a aim, supplied an help and received a penalty in a single recreation, with the earlier two situations coming towards Newcastle and Arsenal in back-to-back appearances in December 2018. King. pic.twitter.com/imnvlnWkka

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 14, 2026

Objectives

Liverpool 1–0 Brighton – Curtis Jones (Milos Kerkez) – 42′

A brilliantly instinctive first-time cross from Kerkez met by Jones’ completely timed surge from deep. Precision, timing, composure.

Liverpool 2–0 Brighton – Dominik Szoboszlai (Mohamed Salah) – 56′

Salah’s consciousness and weight of move have been immaculate. Szoboszlai strode onto it and unleashed a venomous strike past the goalkeeper.

Liverpool 3–0 Brighton – Mohamed Salah (Penalty) – 68′

Sharp footwork to attract the foul, ruthless execution from the spot. Recreation state secured.

Match Statistics

• Possession – Liverpool 47% | Brighton 53%

• xG – Liverpool 1.82 | Brighton 1.22

• Whole Pictures – Liverpool 13 | Brighton 17

• Pictures on Goal – Liverpool 2 | Brighton 6

• Fouls – Liverpool 15 | Brighton 19

• Corners – Liverpool 5 | Brighton 6

First Half

The opening half was measured moderately than frantic. Brighton loved marginally extra possession, however Liverpool’s defensive construction — marshalled by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté — ensured that management didn’t translate into chaos.

Curtis Jones’ deployment at right-back as soon as once more supplied fluidity in build-up. He stepped into midfield zones, permitting Mac Allister and Szoboszlai to rotate intelligently. Milos Kerkez, in the meantime, was relentless on the alternative flank, combining defensive aggression with ahead thrust.

Brighton fired extra pictures total, but many have been speculative or comfortably managed by Alisson. Liverpool’s menace felt sharper. The breakthrough, when it arrived at 42 minutes, was deserved. Kerkez’s whipped supply and Jones’ scientific end represented Liverpool at their most synchronised.

Second Half

The second half introduced readability. Liverpool have been extra direct, extra decisive, and ruthless in the important thing moments.

Szoboszlai’s strike on 56 minutes was emblematic of confidence. The transfer flowed by Salah, whose imaginative and prescient unlocked Brighton’s line, and the Hungarian’s end left little doubt.

Regardless of Brighton recording six pictures on course to Liverpool’s two, recreation administration was evident. Alisson intervened when required, and the defensive position remained compact. The penalty on 68 minutes successfully ended the competition, Salah dispatching it with trademark authority.

Substitutions have been pragmatic moderately than reactive — a welcome signal. Contemporary legs entered with out destabilising the construction, one thing that has not at all times been the case this season.

Our Hungarian reds. World class. 🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/KvW5CixusZ

— Samuel (@SamueILFC) February 14, 2026

Ultimate Ideas

This was a efficiency the place readability was wanted — and readability was delivered.

The statistics counsel a better encounter than the scoreline, but Liverpool managed the narrative. They have been environment friendly moderately than extravagant. Medical moderately than chaotic. The defensive backbone stood agency, the fullbacks influenced each ends, and the attacking leaders executed when it mattered.

In cup soccer, that’s typically the distinction between progress and remorse.

If this was not perfection, it was goal. And goal, at this stage of the season, could also be much more priceless.