Liverpool Survive Brighton Scare in Five-Goal EFL Cup Classic
If you picked just one match to capture the drama of English cup football, Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Brighton delivers. The night had everything—late twists, defensive nerves, and Cody Gakpo reminding everyone why Liverpool paid the big bucks. All five goals? In the second half. Talk about a tone shift.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are not just defending their Liverpool League Cup title; they’re chasing a bit of history too. No team wants the “fourth champions in a row dumped out in round four” tag. Gakpo clearly got the memo. Within a minute after halftime, he’d pounced on a loose ball on the left and smashed it into Brighton’s net—just 38 seconds into the half, the breakthrough the match desperately needed.
The Dutch forward didn’t stop there. Pressing hard, he won possession around Brighton’s box on 63 minutes and sent a low drive into the bottom corner. 2-0, and you’d think it was cruise control for the Reds.
But nothing is simple at the Amex. Brighton roared back after a Liverpool slip at the back, with Simon Adingra capitalizing in the 81st minute. The home fans got loud and the nerves set in. Liverpool needed a response, and Luis Díaz stepped up—just four minutes later, he fired in a third to restore the two-goal cushion. Still, Brighton weren’t finished. Tariq Lamptey, showing plenty of engine, netted deep into stoppage time, pushing the tension up to eleven.
Key Moments and What’s Next
There was a save almost as important as any of the goals—Vitezslav Jaros, Liverpool’s keeper on the night, denied Adingra brilliantly not long after Gakpo’s opener, keeping the Reds in front at a crucial time. It was Liverpool’s blend of clinical finishing and sheer determination that got them over the line.
Making their mark in the EFL Cup never gets old for Liverpool. With this result, they notch a 10th quarter-final appearance and stare down a chance to add another trophy to their cabinet. Klopp will be relieved—recent history hasn’t been kind to holders, with the last three being knocked out at this same stage. For Brighton, it’s heartbreak, but they showed they’re capable of going toe-to-toe with the top guns, especially when the pressure’s on.
This result isn’t just another win. It sends a message: Liverpool aren’t ready to hand over their crown easily, and with Gakpo in this kind of form, writing them off would be a mistake. The cup run continues—expect the drama to ramp up from here.
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