Match Review: Liverpool 6 Brighton 1

Posted on 20. Feb, 2012 by Dominic Campbell in Match Reports

Liverpool booked a place in the quarter finals of the  FA Cup after three own goals from Brighton saw the hosts complete a 6 – 1 rout. The Reds will be hoping that they can transfer their goal-scoring fortunes over to next week as they take on Cardiff in the Carling Cup Final.

Overview

It’s not everyday that the away team scores four goals at Anfield and still loses, but three own goals by Brighton ended any notion that a giant killing may have been on the cards. A wonder goal by Lua Lua cancelled out Martin Skrtel’s opener, but the home side soon ran riot; with both Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez adding their names to the score sheet.

Starting Lineups

Liverpool

Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Suarez, Carroll

Brighton

Brezovan, Calderon, Greer, Dunk, El-Abd, Buckley, Bridcutt, Navarro, LuaLua, Vokes, Barnes

The Match

Liverpool came out the traps firing on all cylinders and were rewarded for their high-tempo start to the game when Martin Skrtelconverted a Steven Gerrard corner after only five minutes. And it could have quite easily been two had Luis Suarez’ shot not been cleared off the line only minutes later.

Brighton’s never-say-die attitude was evident as the visitors went in search of an equaliser. While the Seagulls’ put the home side under pressure, they rarely threatened Pepe Reina in front of the Kop.

But on 17-minutes they were rewarded for their patience when Kazenga LuaLua’s 55.8MPH free-kick rifled into the bottom corneron Reina’s goal from 30 yards out. The visitors were back in the game, and Liverpool once again felt like this could be another difficult day in the office.

As the half drew to an end, it looked as if Brighton would hold the home side going into the break. And that was almost the case had disaster not struck for Gus Poyet’s men on 44-minutes.

Liverpool, who were seeing very little from the chances they had created, benefited from a scramble in the box after Luis Suarez controlled the ball and poked goalwards. The shot was well saved, but could only find Glen Johnson who headed the ball goalwards. It looked as if Liverpool had been thwarted once again as the ball was cleared off the line; only to hit an unsuspecting Liam Bridcutt who could do nothing but watch the ball go in his own net.

Liverpool began the second half in the same fashion as they ended the first and soon extended their lead. This time the goal came when Andy Carroll cooley finished Stewart Downing’s cut-back after the winger burst down the flank and cut the ball back.

Liverpool then had to wait a further 14 minutes before scoring again. Jordan Henderson led the counter-attack and his specualtive ball over the top caused all sorts of confusion in the Brighton defence. Steven Gerrard was the man to benefit this time after he was given a second bite at the cherry following a good save from the Brighton goalkeeper. The goal, though, will not be credited to the captain as his shot from a tight angle was bundled over the line but Bridcutt – for the second time in the game.

Astonishingly it was another Brighton own goal on 74 minutes, when Lewis Dunk comically put Luis Suarez’ cross into the back of his own net. The ball fell to Dunk six yards out; who had all the time in the world to clear his lines.

What happened next will go down in FA Cup history. His name, side by side with that of Djimi Traore. The defender calmly controlled the ball with his chest before attempting to flick the ball up with his knee. His attempt at controlling the ball, however, backfired drastically as he desprately watched the ball roll over the line.

Luis Suarez was eager to put his name on the scoresheet for Liverpool after watching his defensive counter-parts do the same. And he was almost given his wish when Kenny Dalglish signalled for him to take a penalty following a clumsy foul on Dirk Kuyt.

The Uruguayan placed the ball on the spot, but his stuttering run up did little to fool Peter Brezovan, who saved the penalty and rebound.

Liverpool capped off the night on the 85 minute mark. Jose Enrique whipped a teasing cross into the back post, and Andy Carroll headed the ball back across goal. Luis Suarez could hardly miss from 2 yards out and converted his effort to round off a great night for the Reds.

Highlights: Liverpool 6 Brighton 1

Quotes

“It’s a good victory but it was more difficult than the scoreline suggests,.

“Brighton played very well against us at the AMEX in the League Cup and for half an hour or 40 minutes here they were very good as well.

“We deserved to win and go through but whether the score is a true reflection of how the game went, that’s open to conjecture.

“You can’t blame their boys for wanting to defend their goal, they were just a bit unfortunate.

“Someone said we had 15 attempts on target. We’ve said we’d like to get our conversion rate up and that’s not a bad return.”

- Kenny Dalglish admitting that the scoreline flattered the home side.

Summary

Kenny Dalglish will have a headache going into Sunday’s Carling Cup final after yesterday’s performance. He had the luxury of resting Craig Bellamy and Daniel Agger, but will now have to think about the performances of Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing. Does he change a winning formula, or does he go with his strongest team.

Regardless of who plays, the team will be fired up having reached their first final since 2006.

Next stop… Anfield South.