FA Cup
8:00 p.mFebruary 14, 2026
Round of 32
Anfield
Referee: Stuart Attwell, England
Liverpool
Brighton
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
0.00
Expected Goals (xG)
0.00
Passing by
333 (85%)
Accurate passes
364 (85%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
1
G
Alisson
7.3
d
Miloš Kerkez
42′
4
d
Virgil van Dijk (C)
7.7
5
d
Ibrahima Konate
7.5
d
Curtis Jones
42′
10
M
Alexis McAllister
7.5
M
Dominik Szoboszlai
56′
18
M
Cody Steele
7.2
7
M
Florian Wirtz
7.0
M
Mohamed Salah
68′
56′
14
F
Federico Chiesa
6.2
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Liverpool cruised to a dominant 3-0 FA Cup victory over Brighton at Anfield, with Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah on the scoresheet.
Liverpool cruised into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with an impressive 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Valentine’s Day. Goals from Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and a Mohamed Salah penalty secured their passage, showing their clinical edge in a competitive Cup tie.
This FA Cup clash pitted two sides with different footballing philosophies against each other. Liverpool, known for strong cup runs, were aiming to continue their quest for silverware. Brighton were looking to cause an upset and progress in the prestigious competition, always capable of a surprise result.
The opening period was a tense affair, characterized by robust challenges. Brighton captain Lewis Dunk earned the first yellow card of the game in the 15th minute. This signaled a physical approach from the visitors, setting the early tone of the match.
Brighton’s aggressive play continued, leading to more bookings. Danny Gomez was booked in the 33rd minute for a foul in midfield. Carlos Baleba followed him into the referee’s book just before the break, receiving a yellow card in the 41st minute.
Finally, Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Curtis Jones took a precise pass from Miloš Kerkez. He then deftly slotted the ball past the Brighton keeper, sending the home crowd into raptures at Anfield.
The solitary goal gave Liverpool a deserved lead at the break. The Brighton coach would have demanded a more disciplined and incisive performance from his side. Liverpool, meanwhile, looked to maintain control and further extend their lead.
The Reds started the second half with renewed purpose. Dominik Szoboszlai extended their lead in the 56th minute. Mohamed Salah delivered a perfectly weighted pass, which allowed Szoboszlai to fire home from close range with conviction.
Brighton tried to change their fortunes with multiple substitutions in the 62nd minute. Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma and Youssouf Minteh entered the fray. However, their efforts were immediately hampered when Joel Veltman van Hecke was shown a yellow card in the 67th minute for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Just a minute later, Liverpool put the game beyond doubt. Mohamed Salah calmly converted a penalty in the 68th minute. This clinical strike confirmed Liverpool’s dominance and secured a comfortable three-goal lead.
Although Brighton had 52% possession and 16 shots in total, Liverpool proved to be more efficient. The home team has registered 5 shots on goal in 13 attempts, converting three of them. Alisson Becker also made 3 crucial saves to keep a clean sheet.
This comprehensive 3-0 victory marks a strong statement for Liverpool in the FA Cup. They showed both attacking prowess and defensive resilience at home. Brighton will now turn their attention back to their league campaign, hoping to learn from this Cup exit.
