Liverpool 6 Brighton 1 - Match Report

Liam Bridcutt was the unfortunate player to have put the ball in his own net twice with Lewis Dunk getting in on the act to make Brighton the first team to score a hat-trick of owns goals in the FA Cup.

Liverpool weren’t favourites to record a victory by a significant margin such is the conversion rate from chances created this season but the club put that statistic to one side today, albeit with a helping hand from Gus Poyet’s men.

The Uruguayan managers worst fears were realised as he learnt before kickoff that Liverpool trio Steven Gerrard, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez were to start to the game for the first ever time.

Jamie Carragher also came into the side in place of Daniel Agger and the veteran centre half equalled Ian Callaghan’s record of 210 appearances in cup competitions for the club.

It was his partner in defence, Martin Skrtel, who opened the scoring for the Reds inside five minutes as he rose highest at the near post from a Steven Gerrard corner and it looked like the home side would coast it for the rest of the game until Kazenga Lua Lua produced a sublime effort to put the visitors back on level terms.

That was as good as it got for Birghton as Suarez began to grow into the game and it was his sublime technique in the opposition box that proved the catalyst for Liverpool’s second just before half time.

Again the away side struggled to deal with a corner and the second ball fell to Suarez who touched it passed two defenders only to see his toe ended effort parried away and Glen Johnson pounced on the follow up to head towards goal before Bridcutt got the final touch.

That ensured the home side would go into half time in front and it surely ended any hopes Brighton had for a replay going into the second half.

Peter Brezovan was given no chance in the Brighton goal after the interval as Liverpool continued to dominate play and eventually turned their possession into a third goal courtesy of some neat build up play from Gerrard and Suarez that allowed Stewart Downing to cut it back for Carroll who elegantly side footed past the keeper.

Liverpool were building momentum at this point and when Gerrard pounced on a mistake from Brighton’s defence and he crossed the ball into Bridcutt’s thigh, into the roof of the net to give the defender a brace of own goals at the Kop end.

Lewis Dunk then added Liverpool’s fifth as he failed to react quickly enough to a Brezovan parry and subsequently lost control of the ball before his failed attempts to hack it off the line.

Luis Suarez was desperate to get in on the act after a fine display but was generous enough to play in substitute Dirk Kuyt who was brought down in the box. The Dutchman signalled his intent to convert from the spot having won the foul but Kenny Dalglish admitted to sentimentality after the game when he ordered Suarez to take the spot kick.

The Uruguayan couldn’t live up to the gesture and was foiled by Brezovan and the Liverpool number seven will be disappointed with his effort.

He did get his goal though as Andy Carroll rose highest to meet a Jose Enrique cross at the far post and he squared it inadvertently for Suarez to nod home who completed a six goal rout that sees Liverpool host Tony Pulis’ Stoke City in the Quarter finals.

They are sure to be favourites having been handed the home draw and with a first Wembley final since it opened five years ago Liverpool are well on track for cup double come the end of the season.