Brighton dumped out the cup on a cold Valentines Night

Brighton's FA Cup campaign has come to an end thanks to a clinical Liverpool performance.

Albion went into the game making just 3 changes from the side who had narrowly lost at Villa Park on Wednesday evening. Steele, Howell and Babis came in for Verbruggen, Mitoma & Danny Welbeck, with Wieffer returning to the bench.

Brighton started well and monopolised the early possession before Liverpool slowly started to take control as they got to grips with a narrower Brighton shape. The electric Kerkez was seemingly at the centre of anything good for Liverpool, and it was no surprise that the left back was heavily involved in the opening goal.

Harry Howell was slow to react before Kerkez nipped in to win the ball down the left byline; his cross was met by Curtis Jones, who in turn coolly slotted past the despairing Steele. It was a real hammer blow for Brighton, with the goal coming just 3 minutes before halftime. 

The goal did, however, seemingly spark the seagulls into life; first, a Pascal Gross corner was met by the head of Jack Hinshelwood, with the midfielder's disappointing effort landing in the Kop, before moments later Diego Gomez was gifted a golden opportunity only for Alisson to smother the Paraguayan's tame shot. Still, those moments gave the travelling Albion faithful some hope going into the second half. 

Hurzeler decided to stick with his starting eleven in the second half, with Brighton again starting in encouraging fashion. Albion were awarded a free kick early into the second half, with the delivery finding Dunk at the back post. The Brighton captain headed the ball back across goal with Van Hecke waiting for a simple tap-in, only for Alisson once again to intervene and punch the ball away to safety. 

This was to prove a pivotal moment, as shortly after Liverpool doubled their lead. A cross-field pass found the busy Salah, who passed inside to Dominik Szoboszlai, who finished in style. Brighton's already difficult task became that much harder when Mohamed Salah cut inside, breaking into the box before collapsing under minimal contact. The referee was only too happy to oblige the Kops' cries and quickly pointed to the spot. The Egyptian picked himself up and dispatched the penalty emphatically. 3-0, and that was that. The FA Cup dream is dead for another year. 

The scoreline perhaps flattered the Reds, but they undoubtedly deserved their win. Whilst Brighton battled gamely, the quality from the opposition was on another level at times, with the gap between the struggling south coast outfit and their Scouse counterparts only too obvious. 

Attention will now turn to the Premier League, with Albion having some work to do. They next face a short trip to Brentford before a home game against Nottingham Forest. Two games that feel more winnable than today’s tough task and two games that you feel that they must pick up points. This is a pivotal moment for Hurzeler and Brighton. I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to suggest it’s two games that will shape both the clubs' as well as the managers' future. 

With Arsenal to come and a tough trip to Sunderland to follow, it’s imperative they pick up some much-needed points before the last international break of the season. If not only to boost their survival hopes, then at least to raise the mood within the Albion fan base. 

Brighton battled well, but it wasn’t enough. Let’s see what next week brings.