A Sign of Liverpool's Seriousness in the FA Cup

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY — Amid the increasing risk of injury storms, Liverpool's Head Coach Arne Slot has refused to implement rotation in the FA Cup match. They have demonstrated seriousness in pursuing one of the two remaining trophies this season. This decision paid off as "The Reds" successfully advanced to the round of 16.

The team coached by Slot advanced thanks to a resounding 3-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion in the fourth round match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, on Sunday (15/2/2026) early morning WIB. The result was achieved through goals from midfielder Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai, as well as winger Mohamed Salah.

It is reasonable that Liverpool was able to dominate the game. They welcomed the visiting team with their best squad options. Only two starting players were replaced from the match against Manchester City last week, namely midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and striker Hugo Ekitike. They were substituted by Jones and Federico Chiesa. The rest remained the same.

On the other hand, Brighton is more aggressive in squad rotation. Coach Fabian Hurzeler has benched his best players, ranging from goalkeeper Bert Verbruggen to forwards Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter. Their front line is led by 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas from Greece.

Slot, in a press conference before the match, actually intended to make significant rotations. However, he was reluctant to take risks because their opponent was Brighton. Liverpool did not gain the advantage like Manchester City or Arsenal, who faced teams from lower divisions.

The slot intends to maintain Liverpool's championship chances in the remaining competitions. As is known, it has become nearly impossible for Liverpool to defend their Premier League title. They are even struggling to enter the Champions League zone. As a result, the coach is risking everything in the FA Cup and the Champions League.

"I can say that the FA Cup is almost as difficult as the Champions League. The margins are thin (between each team). I am very pleased because we were able to score three goals, which has been rare lately," said Slot, who believes the players are in good condition even though the majority have played three times in the past week.

Regardless of player choices, minor changes in Liverpool's strategy are equally intriguing. Szoboszlai is typically the primary option as an emergency right-back when Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are unavailable. However, that role has instead been assigned to Jones, who has only played as a wing-back once this season.

The change in the roles of the two midfielders makes perfect sense. The right side of Liverpool's defense does not require additional attention as Mitoma is on the bench. Meanwhile, they need a player who can compete in the midfield to fill the void left by Gravenberch. There is no one better suited to take on that role than Szoboszlai.

The results were very effective. Liverpool was able to match the midfield of Brighton, led by the athletic midfielder Carlos Baleba. The visiting team repeatedly breached Liverpool's high defensive block, but they always encountered obstacles when entering the final third. The duo of Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister was solid in maintaining depth.

Interestingly, Jones and Szoboszlai were also the ones who managed to score the home team's two early goals. Jones was assigned to play more centrally, rather than roaming the right side like a typical wing-back. He occasionally made runs into the penalty area. The midfielder successfully capitalized on a cross from Milos Kerkez, who was very active in attacking from the left side.

Szoboszlai was given the freedom to assist in the attack. He no longer just waited outside the penalty area, as he did when playing as a wing-back. The Hungarian player often entered the penalty area to maximize the defensive pressure directed towards Salah. As a result, at the beginning of the second half, Szoboszlai extended the lead through a combination with Salah.

Szoboszlai has scored 10 goals and provided 6 assists across all competitions. With such an impressive record, it is only fitting that the player is showcased in his natural position in every match. "Everything will depend on his (Szoboszlai) performance. He is one of the best players in the world right now," said Salah when asked about Liverpool's chances of winning the FA Cup.

Brighton could do little after falling behind by two goals in the 56th minute. Hurzeler immediately brought in his key players, Mitoma and Rutter, but it was too late. Liverpool became increasingly comfortable with their counter-attack strategy and managed to add another goal through a penalty executed by Salah.

Hurzeler stated that the quality of the squad makes a difference. "The good quality of Liverpool determined this match. We always strive to turn the situation around, but gradually we lost our confidence. We had opportunities to score that could have determined the match, but we failed to capitalize on them," he said.

The competition in the round of 16 of the FA Cup is becoming increasingly lively with Liverpool's qualification. Top division teams, such as Chelsea, Manchester City, and Newcastle United, have already secured their advancement. The current leader of the English Premier League, Arsenal, is poised to follow suit on Sunday night WIB. (AP/REUTERS)