The Arne Slot roadshow keeps rolling on. Cody Gakpo’s double helped the Liverpool manager to make it seven wins from his first eight away matches in all competitions as the holders moved into the quarter‑finals despite making wholesale changes.
Slot could not have wished for a better start to life in English football and he rightly singled out the performance of the Czech goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, who made a spectacular save on his full debut when the game was finely poised at 1-0.
This was the first real setback for Slot’s opposite number Fabian Hürzeler since his arrival on these shores, with Brighton once again failing to get past this stage of the competition for the first time in approaching 50 years.
To their credit, they kept fighting and pulled one back through Simon Adingra and another through Tariq Lamptey after Luis Díaz seemed to have settled matters, but the hosts could not find a precious equaliser.
Slot expressed his concern this week about Liverpool’s lack of forward options after Diogo Jota was ruled out until after the next international break, with Federico Chiesa also sidelined. But with Gakpo in this kind of form, Slot may not need to worry as the Netherlands forward and several other fringe players made a strong case to be included from the start when Brighton are the visitors to Anfield on Saturday in the Premier League.
“I really liked what I saw for players who haven’t played much this season,” Slot said. “They were able to play a similar style and brought quality into the game. So that makes it even harder for me to select lineups for the upcoming weeks.”
Dominic Szoboszlai was tasked with leading the line here as Slot made eight changes from the team that drew with Arsenal on Sunday, with Mohamed Salah brought on as a late substitute when Brighton were threatening to find a way back into the game. The third-choice goalkeeper Jaros – wearing the No 56 shirt – rose to the occasion but it was a sign Liverpool were hanging on that Slot had to bring on Ibrahima Konaté to see out the last five minutes of injury time.
“We were not ruthless enough,” Hürzeler said. “Liverpool scored at the right moment – they had timing on their side and we were not able to reply.”
The Brighton manager said beforehand that there was no reason why his side should not target this competition given they have not got past this stage since 1979 when they lost against the eventual winners, Nottingham Forest, in the last eight. Yet having also made eight changes, the hosts seemed intent on giving their opponents a helping hand in the opening stages, with Szoboszlai nearly making Jason Steele pay for trying to play out from the back. Lamptey was denied early on by a good save from Jaros as Brighton’s second string looked keen to prove a point. Julio Enciso’s curler from 30 yards out had Jaros rooted to the spot as it dipped just over the crossbar.
Liverpool still looked dangerous on the break and Steele did well to save Szoboszlai’s shot with his legs after he had combined with Andy Robertson before Díaz headed the rebound wide. A slick move downfield ended with Robertson forcing Steele into another save at his near post. But given the number of changes on both sides, it was perhaps no surprise that they looked so disjointed.
Ferdi Kadioglu did not return for the second half because of a foot issue but it was down Brighton’s right flank that Liverpool found the breakthrough less than a minute after the restart. Tyler Morton latched on to a loose ball from a goal-kick and Gakpo did the rest, cutting in from the wing and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Brighton would have been level immediately if it had not been for an outstanding reaction save from Jaros to somehow tip Adingra’s header from a Lamptey cross on to a post. Evan Ferguson then fired over from close range before Brajan Gruda was inches away with a curling effort from distance.
Liverpool were living on the edge but had a good chance to seal the win when Gakpo opted to set up Szoboszlai rather than shoot, which allowed Steele to make a save. There was no such unselfishness a minute later after the Dutchman beat the unfortunate Lamptey to the ball as he dispatched a low shot past the Brighton goalkeeper.
Brighton were handed a lifeline when Jarell Quansah misplaced a pass and Adingra bundled home from close range after Jaros had saved the initial shot. Díaz seemed to have ended any hopes of a comeback when he slammed home from Joël Veltman’s poor clearance but Lamptey’s deflected shot set up a nervy finale that Slot will be relieved to have come through.
Arne Slot admits he’s got a selection headache after Cody Gakpo scored twice to book Liverpool’s passage to the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Dutch international Gakpo impressed on his return to the starting line-up as the competition holders earned themselves a trip to Southampton in the last eight.
With Luis Diaz netting Liverpool’s third, there’s some serious competition for the place on the left side of the attack ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton at Anfield.
“In the second half of last season Cody scored a lot of goals so he’s been a good player for Liverpool for a long time now. He continues doing that and that’s a good thing,” Slot said.
“For me, he is a regular starter. Not starting every game but he’s started on a regular basis. There is tough competition with Luis Diaz. It’s normal at a club like Liverpool to have two quality players for every position.
“If you look at Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah, who was unlucky with the goals we conceded, their overall performances I liked and they are in competition with Virgil (van Dijk) and Ibou (Konate).
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game because of their style of play and their recruitment over the past few years. To come away with a win is very pleasing for the long term. I really liked what I saw from players who haven’t played much so far this season. That makes it even harder for me to make line ups in the upcoming weeks.”
Slot made eight changes with Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch among those given the night off.
With Diogo Jota sidelined by injury, Slot didn’t want to risk starting Darwin Nunez so opted to play without a recognised central striker until the Uruguayan was introduced late on.
Midfield duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones were tasked with playing in advanced central roles.
Slot said: “Playing those two without a No 9 you are always a bit worried whether you will have enough runs in behind the last line.
“Both like to play in the midfield and make combinations there. What they did really well was combining being an extra man in midfield with making the deep runs as well. It helped that Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo were a constant threat in behind.
“I prefer to play with a No 9 of course. Darwin was available but I didn’t think it would be good for him to play having just played three games and looking at the upcoming schedule.”
Liverpool’s head coach also praised young goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, who impressed on his full debut for the club.
“Everybody could see how important his saves were,” Slot added.
“The first big chance of the game was for them when he saved a one v one. We all remember his saves in the second half. But he also added to that with how comfortable he was with the ball at his feet – making the right choices of when to go long and when to go short.
“What also helped him was the quality that Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah brought in the build up. I liked that triangle a lot.”
Liverpool return to action on Saturday with a home Premier League match against Brighton.
Arne Slot was left hugely satisfied by the way his much-changed team emerged with a 3-2 win from their Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Slot made eight changes from the team that drew with Arsenal on Sunday, with Mohamed Salah brought on as a late substitute when Brighton were threatening to find a way back into the game. The third-choice goalkeeper Jaros – wearing the No 56 shirt – rose to the occasion but it was a sign Liverpool were hanging on that Slot had to bring on Ibrahima Konaté to see out the last five minutes of injury time. “We were not ruthless enough,” Hürzeler said. “Liverpool scored at the right moment – they had timing on their side and we were not able to reply.”
A pair of superb finishes from Cody Gakpo put the Reds two up just after the hour mark following a goalless first half on Wednesday night, before Simon Adingra pulled one back for the hosts at Amex Stadium.
Luis Diaz quickly made it 3-1 to Slot’s team, though, and then a deflected hit from Tariq Lamptey gave Brighton hope in the final minute.
On whether he was pleased with the way his much-changed side managed a difficult tie...
Yeah, it was definitely [tough]. If you have to come here you know it’s going to be a difficult game because of the style of play, because of the recruitment they have here over the last few years. And then to get away from here with a result, with a win, is of course very pleasing. For the long term, I really liked what I see from players that haven’t played that much this season yet, that they were able to play a similar style that we usually do and they brought quality into the game, so that makes it even harder for me to make line-ups in the upcoming weeks.
On Gakpo’s form…
I think in the second half of last season he got a lot of goals already. He has been a good player for Liverpool for a long time now and that’s a good thing.
On how close Gakpo is to being a ‘regular starter’…
For me, he is a regular starter. He is not starting every game but he has started on a regular basis and he is in a tough competition with Luis Diaz, who, in the moment he went on the left, also scored a goal. So, that’s normal: if you play at a club like Liverpool you have got two quality players for many positions and if you look at the way Joe Gomez played and also Jarell Quansah – who was maybe a bit unlucky with the goal we conceded because the overall performance I liked from them both as well – they are in competition with Virgil [van Dijk] and Ibou [Konate]. So that’s what you have when you play at Liverpool, but for me, Cody has been a regular starter this season.
On what is behind Liverpool’s impressive away form so far under him…
A bit of everything. So, maybe in some situations the fixture list and in some situations just the quality of the players we can put on the teamsheet and I think it is also our playing style that helps us. But yeah, and then it’s only been 13 or 14 games or something like this, but it’s been a very good start away from home but also at home and we need good form on Saturday as well because we came here knowing they are a good team and that’s also what they showed today. So, we need to be on top of our game for Saturday again.
On Vitezslav Jaros’ performance, both in terms of his key saves and with the ball at his feet…
I like the last thing you say because everybody could see how important his saves were. I think the first big chance of the game was for them where he saved the one-versus-one and in the second half of course we all remember one or two saves as well. But he also added to that how comfortable he was with the ball at his feet: making the right choices on when to go short and when to clip the ball towards the striker, and it helped for him the quality Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez brought in build-up. So, I liked that triangle today a lot in ball possession.
On what he saw from Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones after opting to start without a recognised centre-forward…
Yeah, I think they did [what I asked]. If you play those two without a No.9 you are always a bit worried if you have enough runs in behind the last line because these two like also to play into the midfield and make combinations over there, to make triangles over there. But I think what they did really well was combining, trying to become an extra midfielder, but don’t forget to make the deep runs as well.
And it helped that Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo were a constant threat in behind also, so in general I liked what I saw. I prefer to play with a No.9 but if they are not available – and of course we had Darwin [Nunez] available but I think it was not good for him to start today after playing three games and with the upcoming schedule – then this was the result of what we tried to come up with and the players did really well, in my opinion.
All four of Cody Gakpo's goals this season have come in the Carabao Cup
Cody Gakpo scored twice to help send holders Liverpool into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a thrilling victory at Brighton.
After a goalless and largely forgettable first half, Dutch forward Gakpo broke the deadlock a minute after the break in stunning fashion, cutting inside before launching an unstoppable drive into the back of the net.
The goal sparked the game into life and goalkeeper Vítezslav Jaros, making his full debut for the Reds, made a brilliant one-handed save moments later to keep out Simon Adingra's header.
Evan Ferguson then fired over the bar but Liverpool had a golden chance to add a second when the visitors broke three on one, but Gakpo unselfishly decided to pass to Dominik Szoboszlai and his effort was blocked by the recovering Brighton defence.
However, Gakpo was not to be denied his second when a mistake by Tariq Lamptey allowed him to run unchallenged into the box and fire home.
Brighton pushed in the closing stages and got a goal back when a Liverpool defensive mistake was pounced upon and Adingra prodded in to halve the deficit.
That roused the home fans but Luis Diaz made sure of Liverpool's progress when he squeezed in an 81st-minute third, despite a late deflected finish by Lamptey.
Liverpool will now face Southampton away in the week of 16 December.
There is something about the League Cup that seems to serve Gakpo well.
Last year, he scored in four consecutive games in the competition to help the Reds reach the final, where they beat Chelsea, and that run has continued into this season.
He has scored four goals so far in the current campaign and all of them have come in the League Cup, with his latest double coming after he scored two goals in the 5-1 win against West Ham in the previous round.
He was perhaps given a helping hand by the Brighton defence in this game, with his first coming after the Seagulls backed off to give him too much space - although it was an excellent strike - while the second came from a Lamptey mistake.
Boss Arne Slot has mostly used him off the bench this season, but with a busy couple of months ahead for Liverpool, Gakpo is surely going to get more chances to impress in other competitions.
