Liverpool was knocked out of the FA Cup after suffering a heartbreaking late loss to Brighton by the score of 2-1, thanks to a late winner scored by Kauro Mitoma.
In the first few minutes of the match, both teams had opportunities to score. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah came really close to scoring for his team, and then Irish hotshot Evan Ferguson had his attempt blocked. But it would be Liverpool that would take the lead halfway through the first half thanks to a well-taken shot by Harvey Elliott.
The Seagulls rallied with an equalizer, despite the somewhat lucky circumstances, when Tariq Lamptey’s shot was deflected home by Lewis Dunk. However, the Seagulls showed wonderful spirit to climb back into the game and respond with an equalizer. The team captained by Roberto de Zerbi then had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 70th minute, but Alisson made a fantastic stop on a shot from Solly March as both teams battled for the victory.
Elliott and Dunk’s goals put the game in a precarious position, and it looked like the game was going to have to be replayed. Neither team would have desired that going into the start of the game. That was the case until Mitoma scored to surprise the Reds with a nice finish. He took the ball down from Pervis Estupinan’s cut-back and then calmly slotted it beyond Alisson into the roof of the net.
It was a moment that sparked joyful scenes inside the stadium as Brighton claimed their second win over the Reds in a fortnight, and it was the moment that prompted the celebrations. On January 14, De Zerbi’s team won 3-0 against Liverpool, and they produced the same result, despite the fact that the circumstances were quite different.
For their part, Liverpool can now focus their attention on the Premier League and the Champions League, although Jurgen Klopp will be frustrated that his team wasn’t able to at least put up more of a fight while defending their trophy. Even while Liverpool may not have desired a repeat, there is little question that Klopp would have preferred to play one rather than suffer elimination at the hands of Brighton in the fourth round.
And it was Brighton that got the game-winning goal, with Mitoma sneaking in at the back post and shooting past Alisson to set off wild celebrations.
Elliott continued his great form in the FA Cup by scoring another goal, this time against Brighton at the Amex Stadium. He had previously scored the game-winning goal for Liverpool in their third-round replay away at Wolves. Before finally putting the ball in the back of the net in the 30th minute, the 19-year-old forward had a couple more chances to score.
Elliott rounded off a fluid Liverpool move when he tucked the ball low into the bottom corner after being sent through by Mohamed Salah. Salah was the one who set up the opportunity for Elliott. It was the finish of a man who is confident in himself, and Elliott is beginning to get back to his best form after participating in all of the Reds’ games so far this season.
Elliott is quickly becoming an essential component in Jurgen Klopp’s game plan as we approach into the second half of the season, and he is the only player in the Liverpool team to have achieved this feat.