liverpool domineert brighton in fa cup, arne slot op weg naar eerste finale
Anfield, zondag, 15 februari 2026.
liverpool plaatst zich met een overtuigende 3-0 zege voor de achtste finales van de fa cup. op anfield leidde arne slot zijn ploeg naar een dwingende overwinning op brighton. curtis jones opende de score vlak voor rust. dominik szoboszlai verdubbelde het verschil na een fraaie aanval. mohamed salah besliste de wedstrijd met een harde penalty. virgil van dijk en cody gakpo speelden de volle wedstrijd. de overwinning houdt liverpool in de strijd om een prijs dit seizoen. slot blijft zo het bewijs leveren dat hij de club goed kan leiden in zijn eerste jaar als coach.
liverpool dominates brighton in fa cup under slot’s leadership
Liverpool secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield, advancing to the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup [1]. The match took place on February 14, 2026, marking a significant step in their pursuit of silverware this season [2]. Under head coach Arne Slot, Liverpool demonstrated strong control from kickoff to final whistle [3]. The win keeps them active in multiple competitions amid ongoing challenges for Champions League qualification [4].
first-half breakthrough sets the tone
Curtis Jones opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on a precise cross from Milos Kerkez [5]. Prior to the goal, Liverpool saw a Cody Gakpo finish disallowed for offside following a Domink Szoboszlai free kick [6]. Kerkez had earlier forced a save from Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele, whose performance kept the visitors competitive [7]. Despite early pressure from Brighton, including efforts by Ferdi Kadioglu and Jack Hinshelwood, Liverpool gradually asserted dominance before halftime [8].
second-half surge seals progression
Dominik Szoboszlai doubled Liverpool’s advantage in the 56th minute with a powerful volley assisted by Mohamed Salah [9]. The goal stemmed from a fluid attack initiated by Cody Gakpo and精准ly finished by Szoboszlai [10]. Sixteen minutes later, Salah converted a penalty after being fouled by Pascal Gross inside the box [11]. The Egyptian forward struck the ball forcefully into the top corner, leaving Steele no chance [12]. This sequence extinguished any hopes of a Brighton comeback.
defensive resilience complements attacking display
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker played a crucial role in preserving the clean sheet [13]. Early in the second half, he denied Jan Paul van Hecke following a dangerous header from a Brighton set piece [14]. The Dutch defender came close again shortly after, but Alisson made a critical stop to maintain the 1-0 lead [15]. Liverpool’s back line, anchored by Virgil van Dijk and Joël Veltman’s duel with Gakpo, remained firm despite sustained spells of opposition pressure [16]. Defensive discipline complemented their offensive efficiency.
strategic substitutions and player performances
Manager Arne Slot utilized his bench effectively during the closing stages [17]. Mohamed Salah was replaced by Hugo Ekitike in the 77th minute, shortly after scoring the penalty [18]. Fellow starter Federico Chiesa exited for Rio Ngumoha at the same time [19]. Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo were substituted late, making way for Trey Nyoni and Calvin Ramsay respectively [20]. For Brighton, key changes included Georginio Rutter replacing Diego Gómez and Kaoru Mitoma coming on for Carlos Baleba, though neither altered the outcome significantly [21].
path ahead remains open after emphatic win
With the 3-0 victory, Liverpool progresses to the next stage of the FA Cup while maintaining momentum across competitions [22]. Their success hinges on balanced contributions, exemplified by Salah’s goal and assist partnership with Szoboszlai [23]. The presence of Dutch internationals Van Dijk and Gakpo strengthened national representation in the lineup [24]. As the competition narrows, Liverpool now eyes potential matchups, possibly facing West Ham United, who also advanced with help from Dutch talent Crysencio Summerville [25].