Liverpool are through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals thanks to an inspired display from Cody Gakpo in a 3-2 win over Brighton.
The result was a reward for Reds head coach Arne Slot, who opted for heavy rotation at the Amex. Making a total of eight changes to the side that started the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, handing starts to the likes of Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endo.
But it was Vítezslav Jaros - on his full debut for Liverpool - who made a superb save to deny the hosts an opener as he raced off his line to deny Tariq Lamptey. From there the visitors shaded the first half with Andy Robertson, Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai all going close.
It didn't take long for the Reds to break the deadlock after the restart as, within a minute, Gakpo netted a stunning curling strike for his first goal since scoring in the round three win over West Ham United last month.
However, that goal sparked a response from Brighton. Firstly, Jaros was called into action to make a superb save from Simon Adingra before Evan Ferguson blasted the ball over the bar from close range.
Ultimately those missed opportunities turned out to be the turning point as moments after messing up a chance to double the lead, Gakpo made no mistake as he won the ball off Lamptey and found the back of the net with a fine effort to make it four goals in two Carabao Cup appearances this season.
A lapse in concentration from Quansah and subsequent mistake from Jaros allowed Simon Adingra to reduce the deficit.
Diaz’s goal proved to be the winner as Lamptey’s deflected effort set up a nervy finish.
