A much-changed Liverpool continued their Carabao Cup defence at Brighton on Wednesday – and the Reds are within the final eight following a Cody Gakpo-inspired 3-2 victory.
Brighton 2-3 Liverpool
Carabao Cup Fourth Spherical | Amex Stadium
October 30, 2024
Objectives: Adingra 81′, Lamptey 90′; Gakpo 46′ 62′, Diaz 84′
Viteszlav Jaros – 8 (out of 10)
A full senior debut for our No. 3 keeper, who made an enormous one-on-one block quarter-hour in, spreading himself nicely to save lots of. That got here after some good footwork to evade presses and challenges on him in a frantic opening spell.
However overlook all that – Jaros has himself a photograph for the ages after making an excellent fingertip save onto the put up proper after half time, having been transferring the other way one tempo earlier.
Additional good handiwork on excessive balls within the second half and one other respectable block late on, however couldn’t forestall the rebound getting in, nor a late deflected one.
Conor Bradley – 7
A welcome return to availability for our Northern Irish full-back and straight into the lineup, the place he confirmed loads of thrust and journey down the flank, usually making runs infield which weren’t noticed from deep.
Did wrestle a bit defensively in opposition to Adingra, however Brighton have a few of the finest and quickest vast attackers going so no huge hurt finished and he saved going all through.
Jarell Quansah – 6
Gametime has been rare for the younger defender this time period and which may have been mirrored in a number of early touches, however he was typically optimistic, on the entrance foot and fast to make a number of challenges when the Reds have been pushed so excessive upfield that he was deepest, however nonetheless an excellent 15 metres inside Brighton‘s field.
Second half received a number of headers at essential moments and made an excellent (and agile) near-post block to clear a Mitoma cross behind late on.
Nonetheless, he additionally overran the ball with ten minutes to go to present an opportunity to Brighton – which they finally scored from.
Recovered nicely from the setback to chase again Mitoma and make a advantageous late deal with… after which deflected the ball into his personal internet for 3-2 – and was instantly subbed. Harsh.
Joe Gomez – 8
Robust first half as he made a number of essential cut-outs in opposition to Brighton‘s counter, then one other normal-but-important toe-poke again to his keeper at the beginning of the second half as Brighton appeared to run via on aim.
Environment friendly and tidy, a very good efficiency the place and when Liverpool wanted a senior head.
Andrew Robertson – 6
Time will inform whether or not this match was the start of a altering of the guard, as some have hinted needs to be the case with Robbo’s declining type, however he was captain on the evening and provided some stability amid so many modifications elsewhere.
Stored everybody onside for Brighton‘s large probability via the center early on, whereas Tariq Lamptey had him on toast too many occasions for consolation. Had one large probability to attain however a low near-post effort was saved after a advantageous run.
Additionally made an important and glorious clearance on the far put up late within the sport. Defensively bought higher however you ponder whether the tempo he struggled with was a sign of him being about to return out of the aspect.
Wataru Endo – 6
A reasonably fiery exhibiting by way of making an attempt to win the ball again within the centre, however his passing was – unsurprisingly given lack of rhythm – usually protected or backwards, irking Slot greater than as soon as on the touchline. Overhit a routine go into the field which might have freed Cody Gakpo one-on-one.
Did a Gravenberch flip simply earlier than the hour mark however then despatched his go straight to Van Hecke with no person in crimson close by.
Tyler Morton – 6
Central together with Endo, and positively bought himself concerned loads, however usually only a yard off the tempo be it in deciding the go or making his run within the first half.
Began the second in nice trend although – he lobbed the go over the defence which ended up as an help.
Luis Diaz – 7
Proper-wing Diaz isn’t as unpredictable and relentless because the left-wing model, and he had a tricky begin with a number of errant touches and Kadioglu proving a tricky participant to bypass on the dribble.
However within the second half we noticed the worth of Diaz off the ball: Liverpool underneath strain, however doubling up again with Bradley to halt the fixed runs from Adingra and co. Additionally sparked a three-on-one counter after successful the ball that the Reds by some means wasted, earlier than wrapping up the scoring with a low shot in off the put up.
Cody Gakpo – 9 – Man of the Match
Not centre-forward as was maybe anticipated, however again in his now-usual-again left wing position, and put in a robust sufficient exhibiting to recommend he would possibly now be the beginning possibility on that flank, even not contemplating his targets.
Arduous-working monitoring again, some good hold-up play and at all times a prepared runner as an out-ball. A fully belting rocket of a aim for the primary, not a lot bent as walloped into the highest nook with a basic cutting-in, then notched the second with a blistering low end on the angle.
May have had an help too however Szoboszlai wasted the prospect – though it additionally wasn’t the cleanest go.
Subbed on 70, whereas Diaz stayed on, hints that he’ll be beginning on Saturday too.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6
The beginning XIs gave rise to a suggestion Szoboszlai is perhaps on the wing in a entrance three; as a substitute he and Curtis Jones have been a two-pronged falsest of false nines, dropping in and urgent forward with out a recognised striker on the pitch.
Possibly Dominik was, nominally, the chosen “ahead” as such, however he definitely didn’t maintain fort there or play any sort of goal man.
Are you able to scuff a header? In that case, that’s what he did to ship one simply vast on a clumsy rebound, however past that didn’t actually hassle sufficient within the last third. Missed an absolute sitter one on one, not a tidy sufficient first contact even when the aforementioned go wasn’t completely variety.
Curtis Jones – 7
One other new position for Curtis, one which was far nearer to his Academy days beginning positions than life at senior stage, however he dovetailed in diligent trend with Szoboszlai, pressed excessive, received the ball again as early as he may and nonetheless dropped again into midfield when wanted.
Later after the subs he was again in deeper midfield and instantly appeared unimaginable to get the ball off once more.
Substitutes
Alexis Mac Allister (on for Endo, 63′) – 7 – Neat touches, deep position. Couldn’t chase again shortly sufficient for the aim.
Trey Nyoni (on for Morton, 63′) – 7 – Apart from one overly adventurous flick on the flip in midfield which gave away possession he was an excellent addition to the pitch, transferring the ball nicely and firing one effort vast.
Darwin Nunez (on for Szoboszlai, 70′) – 6 – Not an excessive amount of went his method however the typical endeavour.
Mohamed Salah (on for Gakpo, 70′) – 6 – Barely bought a kick down the wing.
Ibrahima Konate (on for Quansah, 90′) – N/A – Simply to tidy up in stoppage time. Instantly bought booked (wrongly).
Subs not used: Kelleher, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Younger
Arne Slot – 8
Effectively, we received.
Eight modifications to the workforce made it clear the place Slot’s priorities (rightly) lie, and it isn’t to present Brighton a simple run of issues on the weekend in opposition to a drained aspect.
Lining up the XI to the extent that a minimum of one participant was at all times going to be in an uncommon spot, so it was apparent that this was a match he wished to handle minutes in at the start.
The false 9 (or simply Szoboszlai up high, nonetheless you see it) didn’t actually work however there have been nonetheless particular patterns, endeavour and probabilities being created to make it clear this was a Liverpool and Slot workforce.
We want different squad members match and to depend on throughout the 12 months so we can’t complain at workforce alterations, and his subs strengthen the extent on the pitch as the sport wore on.
Questions could also be raised over his remedy of Quansah, however minutes have been managed nicely to make sure few ‘first XI’ gamers performed 90.
It was nearer than it wanted to be in the long run, however the Reds stay within the competitors… and we face the identical opponent once more in a number of days. Classes discovered?
Brighton 2-3 Liverpool
