A hat-trick of own goals helped Liverpool stroll to a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Gus Poyet’s Brighton in the FA Cup fifth-round at Anfield and set up a quarter-final home clash with Stoke City.
The Seagulls had the misfortune to become the first side in FA Cup history to concede three own goals in a tie, with strikes from Martin Skrtel, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez completing a very satisfying afternoon for the Reds who dominated from start to finish.
With the prospect of a Carling Cup final starting berth against Cardiff next week at Wembley, Kenny Dalglish’s men were keen to impress and started strongly. They were ahead within five minutes when Skrtel was on hand to punish some poor Brighton defending by heading man-of-the-match Steven Gerrard’s whipped corner past Brezovan.
The visitors were level on 17 minutes when LuaLua beat Pepe Reina from 25-yards with a stunning low drive. That was as good as things got for the visitors and Liverpool were back in front just before half-time. Another Gerrard corner caused confusion in the Brighton box. First Suarez and then Glen Johnson had efforts cleared off the line before the unlucky Bridcutt managed to deflect the ball into his own net to send the home side in a goal up at the break.
Liverpool started the second half on the front foot and were obviously intent on killing the tie off as quickly as possible. After Jordan Henederson went close with a clever flick from a Gerrard shot, Carroll duly made it 3-1 on 57 minutes following an excellent move involving Gerrard, Suarez and Downing who crossed low for Carroll to convert with a first-time left-foot finish from just inside the penalty area.
Things went from bad to worse for Brighton after that and two own goals in two minutes sealed their fate. Bridcutt deflected a Gerrard shot into his own net on 72 minutes, before Dunk compounded some more comical defending from the visitors by miscontrolling the ball over his own line when trying to clear just a couple of mimutes later.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty on 81 minutes when Dirk Kuyt was felled in the area. Boss Dalglish motioned for Suarez to take it, but the Uruguayan scuffed his kick and Brezovan saved easily. However, the controversial striker was not to be denied and, just a couple of minutes later, Carroll nodded a Jose Enrique cross back across goal which Suarez headed home from under the crossbar to seal an emphatic victory.