Liverpool – Brighton & Hove Albion

Liverpool haven't taken any risks in their team selection. It strongly appears as though their hopes of Champions League qualification are thin so it makes sense for them to target the FA Cup

They've already reached the Carling Cup final so and still potentially have a successful season

Brighton have already knocked Newcastle United out of the FA Cup, when Will Buckley was particularly impressive, but they're strong underdogs today.

The afternoon also represents a chance for Andy Carroll to impress, and for Luis Suarez to finally put a controversial period behind him (hmmm)

Liverpool's tactics could really be decisive today. Brighton prefer to keep the ball on the ground, which more often than not is Liverpool's approach, though today they may decide not to in order to avoid giving Brighton a chance to play to their strengths

Liverpool kick-off...

Liverpool seem to have gone for a 4-4-2, with Carroll unsurprisingly leading the line and Suarez playing with freedom. Brighton, to their credit, and going against what many other non-Premier League sides have done in this competition so far, appear to be adopting their normal tactics

That could ultimately be to their detriment, of course, but Gus Poyet's side really isn't set up to contain others

Good save there from Brezovan after he touches Downing's deflected cross over the bar

Liverpool corner...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Liverpool 1-0 Brighton! Skrtel scores!

Nice, routine goal from Liverpool as Skrtel heads in Gerrard's corner at the near post. Disastrous start for Brighton

Their consolation is that their game plan hasn't necessarily altered as a result of their approach. As they're not set-up defensively, they can potentially recover from conceding

Some nice football being played here, with both sides stroking the ball around in midfield.

Adam, as he has tended to do all season, continues to drop and sit in front of the two centre-halves and provide another passing option. It's a role that suits him

Liverpool have another corner after another Downing cross is deflected out...

Brighton have learned from the first and cleared the danger

Better from Brighton as they attack down the right from Buckley...

In contrast to the majority of this weekend's FA Cup matches, this could well be a game where more football is played

Good break down the left from Downing and a good cross, but Dunk heads back towards his 'keeper

Free-kick to Liverpool on the edge of Brighton's box after a foul on Enrique

Taking quickly by Liverpool but Gerrard's low drive goes wide

And now a free-kick to Brighton for Henderson's foul on Lua Lua

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Liverpool 1-1 Brighton! What an equaliser!

Lua Lua fired the free-kick low and hard just beyond the wall and past Reina! That'll remind Anfield regulars of the days of Riise and Cisse

Liverpool again with the ball at the back...

Close from Downing, who poked his effort past Brezozan before the ball was cleared away. Needed a 'fox in the box' to convert that.

Great trickery in the box there by Suarez, should have been a goal! He just needed to get his shot away and Liverpool surely would have been back in front then

Free-kick to Liverpool for Navarro's (ex-Liverpool Navarro) foul on Suarez

It's taken quickly but comes to nothing. Brighton goal-kick

Optimistic effort there from Suarez. The forward dropped into midfield and shot from distance but the ball went high and wide

Vokes heads over from Lua Lua's cross. The goalscorer's certainly making things happen for the away side

What an intervention by Calderon! Suarez cut inside the area and beat the 'keeper with his shot but the right-back was in position to block and send it over the bar. Liverpool corner...

Comes to nothing. Liverpool with the ball at the back...

Free-kick against Carroll for pushing Greer. The striker's getting very frustrated at the game so far

Better there from him! A lovely cross into the box from Gerrard which Carroll jumps to head but his effort is just over the bar. Should be 2-1 now.

Liverpool have another corner...

Danger's cleared and Brighton recover possession

Better now from Brighton, with Buckley leading their attack. Liverpool now need to regain some composure in possession

Brighton again with the ball in midfield...

Liverpool's midfield tends to drop too deeply, leaving Carroll isolated and entirely reliant on Suarez to make up the space in between them. With that happening, it's harder for them to counter as they'd wish

Suarez's cross blocked. Liverpool throw-in deep into Brighton's half

Carroll blocked from meeting Gerrard's cross by Greer. The striker isn't happy but the referee waves his appeals off

Lua Lua's breaking down the left..

...he does well to shoot after beating Johnson but his effort hits the side netting

Liverpool free-kick on the very edge of the box after Calderon fouls Downing

Gerrard's cross ended up going towards goal until Brezovan tipped over. Corner to Liverpool...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Liverpool 2-1 Brighton!

It's an untidy goal but Liverpool won't complain; Johnson's header was cleared off the line but hits Bridcutt and is turned into the net. Liverpool deserve that

Foul on Suarez. Liverpool free-kick again, and again from a crossing position, this time from the right

One minute of added time to be played...

<b>Half-time: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton</b>

Brighton have paid for ineptly defending two set pieces but, to be fair, it's a lead Liverpool deserve

Both teams are out now for the second-half...

Brighton kick-off...

Sloppy from Adam as a misplaced pass gives the ball away...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Buckley off, Noone on

Interestingly, Noone is also known for roofing an extension to Gerrard's house when he was a non-league player

Liverpool corner..

...it's taken short but Johnson's subsequent effort flies over the bar

Suarez chips towards goal but Brezovan, a 6ft 6ins goalkeeper, catches with easr

Vokes is caught offside there. Liverpool free-kick, Reina to take

And a foul at the other end by Johnson. Brighton free-kick

Adam crosses towards Carroll but Dunk heads back towards his 'keeper. Well defende

Close from Liverpool! Henderson tries to deflect Gerrard's wayward shot on target but the ball still goes wide

Brighton again with the ball at the back...

Liverpool now with the ball in defence

They actually miss Agger today, given the way they're choosing to play. Adam's having to drop deep to start any attacks when previously Agger may have run out from defence. Carragher and Skrtel aren't nearly as good at playing the ball

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b>Liverpool 3-1 Brighton! Carroll scores!

A decent move by Liverpool culminated with Downing's low cross for Carroll which the striker took well, firing low into the net. Good finish

Clear space now between Brighton and Liverpool. Difficult to see the Seagulls getting back into the game

Crucially, it could well play into Liverpool's hands if they continue to attack; Liverpool are having lots of success on the counter

Woeful pass there from Gerrard with Liverpool breaking! That should have been a fourth goal

Liverpool fans will be pleased to note Carroll's sudden energy; he's clearly been lifted by that goal

Liverpool throw-in. They're looking very comfortable and confident at the moment. Dalglish will be pleased, but they should avoid taking any risks

To Brighton's credit they continue to try and attack but Liverpool are defending well, holding their shape and refusing to give the Championship side any openings

...partly why they've such a good defensive record, this season

Any threat from Brighton has dwindled completely. They're good at keeping possession, but look bereft of ideas once they're in Liverpool's half

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> El-Abd off, Vicente

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Vokes off, Mackail Smith

Positive changes from Poyet, those

Talented but fitness-challenged Vicente, who has won with Valencia at Anfield in the Champions League, is on

As is energetic, hard-working and, by Championship standards, good finisher Mackail Smith

Brighton corner

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Liverpool 4-1 Brighton!

Unlucky for Brighton, but Gerrard did very well there! After his first shot was saved, he chased the ball instead of accepting a corner, cut it back very well and forced Bridcutt's own goal after the defender tried to block it. Harsh on the defender, but...

This game's surely over as a contest, though there could yet be at least another goal...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Liverpool 5-1 Brighton! It's another own goal

Suarez's cross was fumbled by the goalkeeper onto Dunk who failed to clear the ball, instead turning it over his own line

Dalglish would prefer Liverpool to have scored their own goals but he'll be happy with the luck they've had

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Gerrard, Downing and Henderson off; Maxi, Shelvey and Kuyt on

Nice touch there from Gerrard, shaking the hand of his former youth team-mate Navarro as he left the pitch. Carragher becomes Liverpool's captain for the remainder of the game

What a waste by Carroll! The striker had plenty of space to run into before shooting - unchallenged - but instead chose to shoot from distance. He struck the ball well but it didn't test Brezovan.

Liverpool penalty!

Kuyt brought down in the area when about to shoot, and probably score

Suarez to take...

The striker missed! Poor penalty, really. Brezovan saved with ease

Corner to Liverpool...

There could easily be another goal or two left in this...

The chance has gone but Liverpool remain positive in possession

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Liverpool 6-1 Brighton! Suarez the scorer!

Vicente fires wide for Brighton! Shows some nice touches; can't help but feel he could play for a Premier League side

Injury has been added to insult for Bridcutt, who's currently down in pain

Play yet to restart following Bridcutt's injury, who's leaving the field...

And it restarts again. Liverpool are visibly playing with less purpose now

Two minutes of added time to be played

Play's stopped again. There's a streaker on the pitch...

<b>Full-time: Liverpool 6-1 Brighton</b>

It's a great win for Liverpool, who progress to the next round against Stoke City. Brighton shouldn't be disheartened because of the bad luck they've had today, but Liverpool were clearly the superior side and good value for the win, if not necessarily the scoreline. A potential cup double is on the cards; all attention will turn to next Sunday's Carling Cup final against Cardiff City.