By Tim Hodges
Liverpool 6 Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Albion were made to Kop it at Anfield this afternoon and suffered their biggest FA Cup defeat since the 1983 Final Replay and the biggest so far under Gus Poyet.
The Seagulls were well beaten with three of Liverpool’s goals coming from Albion players, Liam Bridcutt twice and one off the knee from Lewis Dunk.
Liverpool even missed a late penalty.
The home team went ahead within five minutes as Slovakian international Martin Skrtel headed past fellow countryman Peter Brezovan from a Steve Gerrard corner.
The set piece showed round one of the afternoon’s tussle between Adam El-Abd and Andy Carroll, with the Liverpool man almost bleating to the referee everytime El-Abd went near him.
Albion attempted to pass the ball around and kept possesion for long periods. It was from one of these passages of play that Kazenga LuaLua went on a mazy run and was hauled down by Jordan Henderson.
From the free kick LuaLua hit a now trademark shot, low into the bottom corner and past Pepe Reina, to put the Albion level at 1-1, with around 20 minutes gone.
The Albion fans went beserk, while the Kop were silenced.
On the pitch Liverpool looked a little perplexed but then really began to show their class. Luis Suarez went galloping through the Albion defence and had his shot cleared off the line by Inigo Calderon.
Stewart Downing was causing the Albion defence massive problems. From one of his crosses Carroll went close with a header. And now Carroll was having a problem with Gordon Greer as the Albion defence got physical with the big Liverpool striker.
Suarez drifted past two Albion defenders but had his shot beaten away by Brezovan. Dunk lost possession to Jose Enrique, who shot wide.
Although the Albion were getting their fair share of the ball they weren’t doing much with it. A rare run forward from Will Buckley saw the Albion wide man lose out to Jamie Carragher and the ball was quickly at the feet of Suarez, whose shot was off target.
Charlie Adam now muscled his way into the midfield battle as Liverpool worried the Albion more and more.
It was from his corner, which Brezovan could only punch at, that Glen Johnson headed back at the Albion goal. Sam Vokes cleared off the line but the ball rebounded off Liam Bridcutt into the goal to put the Reds 2-1 up at half time.
Albion fans were in high spirits and good voice througout the interval.
But just ten minutes into the second half a combination of Gerrard and Downing teed up Carroll who for once got clear of El-Abd to sidefoot Liverpool into a 3-1 lead.
Not long afterwards Albion introduced Vicente Rodriguez and Craig Mackail-Smith for El-Abd and Vokes. It appeared that the Albion had reverted to a 3-5-2 formation and at times 3-2-5. Vicente did try running at the Liverpool defence and helped Albion win a corner.
However, from Craig Noone’s set piece Greer misguided a header and was slow getting back. Henderson lofted the ball into the area for Gerrard whose shoot from a tight angle went in off the unfortunate Bridcutt, who had now scored twice at the wrong end. Albion were 4-1 down.
Liverpool still weren’t done as Albion looked somewhat ragged.
Adam fed Downing, who combined with Suarez to send in a cross that Brezovan palmed into the path of Dunk. Dunk’s obvious intention was to hoof it clear but he seemed to change his mind and tried to control it on his knee. Sadly a heavy touch saw the ball diverted into the goal for 5-1.
It was Albion’s third own goal of the match and the first tme in FA Cup history that one team has scored three own goals.
Albion were all over the place. Dirk Kuyt, Albion’s tormentor at the Amex back in September, was fed by Suarez. Noone clattered him from behind and Liverpool won a penalty.
Suarez stepped up and saw both his spot kick and rebound saved well by Brezovan.
Minutes later Carroll hit the bar from an Adam cross. Then Suarez started a move, finding Enrique up from full back and in acres of space. He crossed for Carroll who nodded down for the Uraguyan to make it 6-1 from almost underneath the cross bar.
It was something of a footballing lesson for the Seagulls who have other fish to fry in their quest for the Champoinship play-offs.
Albion: Brezovan, Calderon, Dunk, Greer, El-Abd; Buckley, Bridcutt, Navarro, LuaLua; Barnes, Vokes. Subs: Ankergren, Vincelot, Harley, Vicente, Noone, Mackail-Smith, Agdestein.
Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Enrique; Downing, Adam, Gerrard, Henderson; Carroll, Suarez. Subs: Doni, Kelly, Coates, Maxi, Kuyt, Shelvey, Spearing.
Ref: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
