Anfield Applauds Salah as Liverpool Advances in FA Cup

Liverpool edged closer to FA Cup glory with a convincing 3-0 victory over Brighton, as Mohamed Salah's resurgence sparked Anfield into life.

The Reds, still searching for their best form, showed promising signs in a crucial FA Cup fourth-round win on Saturday night. Despite a lackluster first half, Liverpool took the lead through Curtis Jones' close-range finish, thanks to Milos Kerkez's cross. The second half saw a much-improved performance, with Salah playing a pivotal role in both Dominik Szoboszlai's goal and his own penalty, which sealed the win.

While Brighton had their chances, particularly in the first half, the clean sheet and three-goal margin provided a much-needed boost for manager Arne Slot and his struggling side.

**Goalkeeper & Defence**

- **Alisson Becker (7/10):** Made crucial saves to deny Brighton, including a late first-half effort from Diego Gomez and a header from Lewis Dunk after the interval.
- **Curtis Jones (8/10):** Stepped in at right-back, defending well and scoring the opening goal with a timely run into the area. Later moved into midfield.
- **Ibrahima Konate (7/10):** Committed several fouls but also won some through sheer determination. His distribution was top-notch.
- **Virgil van Dijk (7/10):** Dominated the pitch, particularly in the air, and was almost flawless.
- **Milos Kerkez (8/10):** Provided an excellent cross for Jones' goal and has significantly improved his defensive play.

**Midfield**

- **Dominik Szoboszlai (8/10):** Started in a deeper midfield role but made a significant impact, scoring his 10th goal of the season with a fierce first-time finish.
- **Alexis Mac Allister (7/10):** Put in another energetic display, winning duels and playing a sensational ball through for Kerkez.
- **Florian Wirtz (5/10):** Struggled to influence the game, with only one notable run. He may benefit from a week's rest.

**Attack**

- **Mohamed Salah (8/10):** Showed glimpses of his former self, setting up Szoboszlai's goal and converting a penalty he won himself. Deservedly received a standing ovation.
- **Federico Chiesa (5/10):** Effort was not lacking, but his best position is not as a makeshift center-forward.
- **Cody Gakpo (6/10):** Played a part in the second goal with a delightful cross-field ball but sometimes opts for the wrong choice.

**Substitutes & Manager**

- **Joe Gomez (6/10):** Made a solid return from injury, taking over at right-back from Jones.
- **Hugo Ekitike, Rio Ngumoha, Calvin Ramsay, Trey Nyoni:** Did not significantly impact the game.
- **Arne Slot (7/10):** Selected a strong side and guided them to a comfortable win, with the FA Cup potentially salvaging the season.