Brighton 2 Liverpool 3: Cody Gakpo nets pair of rockets as much-changed Reds cling on for Carabao Cup quarter-final spot
CODY GAKPO continued his Carabao Cup love affair with a brilliant brace at Brighton.
The Dutchman’s double set Liverpool up to cruise into the quarters.
But a late flurry of goals, with Simon Adingra and Tariq Lamptey scoring either side of Luis Diaz, left Arne Slot looking flustered.
Whether 2-0 up or down Brighton can always produce a comeback or collapse, but Slot’s lot should have been far more comfortable having been put clear.
Gakpo bagged four goals on the way to last season’s final and already has four in two appearances this term.
Slot needed another forward to step up after injuries and some rotation – eight changes a piece made here.
He has so little faith in blooper-reel regular Darwin Nunez that he opted to start two central midfielders, Dominik Szboszlai and Curtis Jones, as false nines.
It left the Reds with an effective front four at most times, though they struggled for clear cut chances.
However the hosts should have taken the lead thanks to a clever clip over the Liverpool back line by Jan Paul van Hecke
Lamptey found himself alone against impressive keeper Vitezslav Jaros but fired straight at the Czech.
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The chance gave Brighton a shot of spirit but Slot’s side largely retained control and started to force chances.
Their lack of focal point, with Jota injured, meant openings were harder to come by.
It took a smart one-two between Szboszlai and Andy Robertson to find some space, though the midfielder shot straight at Steele before Luis Diaz headed the rebound wide.
Gakpo then fed Robertson for a chance of his own, though Steele stopped it with ease at the near post.
Having gone for the tappy and technical approach to breaking Brighton down in the first half, Gakpo went for the jugular within 40 seconds of the restart – cracking a thunderbolt from the corner of the box past Steele.
His strike here did put Liverpool ahead but it also put a rocket up the hosts.
Within moments of the resumption, third-choice keeper Jaros made a stunning fingertip save to turn Adingra’s header on to the post before parrying an effort from Evan Ferguson and pushing Jakub Moder’s long range striker over the bar.
Hurzeler’s men were in complete control, but another Lamptey handed Liverpool the initiative once again.
The former Chelsea man was robbed of the ball in his own half by Gakpo, who raced away as part of three red shirts against one blue and white.
Gakpo opted to square for Szboszlai who got his feet stuck and allowed Steele to get a hand to his poor effort.
Two minutes after the first warning, Gakpo snatched the ball from the full-back once more and this time took no risks in squaring to a team-mate. A thumping near-post finish flashed past Steele.
Kaoru Mitoma was sent on and tormented down the left but it was Adingra, Brighton’s standout man, who gave them hope of a comeback.
Just as Lamptey had slipped up, Jarell Quansah was pickpocketed in his own half. The ball moved to Ferguson whose powerful strike was spilt, allowing the winger to prod home.
It had Liverpool frightened once more, but Diaz hit back with an impressive reverse finish into the near post.
That should have been that but Lamptey, what a night he could have had without the silly mistakes, fired in a deflected second for the hosts.
Five excruciating added minutes later, Slot could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Though he must face the Brighton barrage again on Saturday.