Cody Gakpo opened the scoring at the Amex Stadium with a stunning strike(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Cody Gakpo's brilliant brace beats battling Brighton as Liverpool advance - 5 talking points

by · Irish Mirror

Cody Gakpo drove holders Liverpool into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a brace that lit up Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium and set up a stunning second half.

After a tight first period which featured chances for both sides, Gakpo exploded into the second with a thunderous strike from the corner of the penalty area which flew past Jason Steele.

The Dutchman then drove home a low shot to make it 2-0 midway through the half, before Simon Adingra pulled one back for the hosts. Luis Diaz then added a third for the Reds, before Tariq Lamptey's effort deflected off Jarell Quansah for Brighton to pull another one back.

Liverpool held on for a victory though, and a place in the last eight of the competition. Here are the main talking points.

1. Vitezslav Jaros announces himself again

Jaros saved well from Lamptey early on(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Having come in from nowhere to make his first senior appearance for Liverpool in the win at Crystal Palace at the start of the month, Vitezslav Jaros was back in the Reds goal at the end of it, taking up the position of Carabao Cup keeper given Caoimhin Kelleher's recent promotion.

At Selhurst Park Jaros was solid when he needed to be, but at Brighton he was able to showcase more of his abilities. He was good with the ball at his feet early on, stood up impressively to deny Tariq Lamptey when the Brighton man raced through in the first half and then produced a quite superb save from Adingra at the start of the second. He could have done better for Adingra's goal, but looks primed for a good career.

2. Julio Enciso showcases his promise

Julio Enciso is an exciting talent(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

This was only Julio Enciso's third start of the season for the Seagulls, with all of them coming in the Carabao Cup, and he's a talent who deserves more of an opportunity.

Having seen almost the whole of last season ruined by a serious knee injury, the Paraguayan has been unable to build on the exciting promise he showed at the tail end of the 2022-23 campaign when he scored a stunning goal at Chelsea and an even better one at home to Manchester City. He tried to repeat the latter in the first half but his effort from distance flew over Jaros' crossbar.

3. Cody Gakpo lights up the Carabao Cup again

Gakpo blasted in the opener from distance(Image: James Marsh/REX/Shutterstock)

He won't want to be known as Liverpool's Carabao Cup forward, but you can't deny Gakpo's impact when the sides are rotated and the stakes lowered somewhat. The Dutchman has repeatedly come up trumps for Liverpool in the competition, and this became his game in the second half.

His first was stunning, blasting in from range on the angle, and then came the second when - moments after messing up a three-on-one break - he robbed Lamptey and blasted low into the net. On nights like this Gakpo is electric and such a valuable player for Liverpool to have. He'll have more to say this season.

4. Brighton's openness must be a concern

Fabian Hurzeler saw his side cut open(Image: Getty Images)

As always Brighton showed their willingness to play out from the back and invite Liverpool onto them, but that wasn't really the main concern for Fabian Hurzeler. It was losing the ball in the middle third and indeed when they were attacking which became the issue, with the Reds able to take the ball at ease and often slice through their opponents.

Both Luis Diaz and Andy Robertson could have scored fantastic goals in the first half before Gakpo took over in the second, and off the back their collapse against Wolves at the weekend, and with Liverpool to come again on Saturday, Hurzeler will have to be concerned that his side are looking brittle.

5. Arne Slot sticks to his strengths

Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez came on as Liverpool substitutes(Image: Javier Garcia/REX/Shutterstock)

At 2-0 down and demoralised following Gakpo's brace, Brighton's players looked over to the sidelines and saw Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez coming on. It was another unusual quirk to this Arne Slot start at Liverpool, with the Dutchman more than willing to use his stars whenever he can.

Slot's decision to farm out many of Liverpool's exciting youngsters on loan following his arrival this summer, instead focusing on the senior players at his disposal as he got to grips with the job, is very different to Jurgen Klopp's approach, and wasn't entirely popular with fans who remember 'Klopp's kids' and their role in winning this competition last season.

It isn't all about the senior stars, as the start for Tyler Morton and appearance for 17-year-old Trey Nyoni showed, but Slot's streamlining shows he means business this season. Liverpool could have wilted after Adingra pulled a goal back but they had the strength on the pitch to see things out with the third from Diaz.

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