Liverpool booked a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup with an improved performance against a very determined Brighton team on Wednesday night.
New signing Craig Bellamy opened the scoring with a fine finish from a tight angle to end a very impressive move, while Dirk Kuyt struck late on to offer Liverpool some breathing space heading into the final stages of the game.
Liverpool had started the game very brightly, contrasting to the start from Sunday’s game against Tottenham. Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy were linking up brilliantly, while Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez on their return to the first team also linking up with the two front men.
But the breakthrough came in the 7th minute when Suarez slipped in a clever ball to Bellamy for the Welshman to tuck away into the bottom right corner to give the reds a well-earned lead.
It could have been 2-0 shortly after. Kuyt had a header cleared off the line from a corner, while Suarez and Kuyt then linked up with a precise one two, but the Uruguayan's shot slided past the post. In the 31st minute Suarez missed a free header from a set piece whipped in by the impressive Bellamy, it agonisingly clipped the post as it went wide.
The closest chance to make it 2-0 came shortly after when Craig Bellamy took an audacious shot from a free-kick 40 yards out, the Welshman’s shot hit the bar leaving Ankergren static in the middle of the goal.
However Brighton did have a chance to pull a goal back, but were denied by a last ditch Martin Kelly tackle infront of an empty net on the stroke of half time.
Liverpool led at the break with a narrow 0-1 scoreline.
Liverpool led at the break with a narrow 0-1 scoreline.
Brighton started the second half as they finished the first. Coates, making his full debut, misplaced a pass at the start of the half, Noone capitalised and struck the cross bar with a long-range effort.
The highlight of the night was the return of Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, who had been injured since March. The captain was introduced in the 73rd minute to loud cheers from the travelling Anfield faithful.
It was soon 2-0 in the 80th minute; In a sweeping move Liverpool countered as Bellamy found Maxi Rodriguez, the Argentinian passed to Kuyt to put tuck the ball away into the bottom corner. The goal came at a period of the game where Brighton were pushing for an equaliser.
Ashley Barnes converted a penalty on the brink of stoppage time to give Brighton a slim chance of what would be a dream comeback against the 7 time winners, but it was to no avail as the reds held their nerve to march through with a 1-2 win.
Keny Dalglish had not taken this game lightly. He fielded a very strong team, as he did in the Round 2 outing against Exeter with top names such as Suarez, Carragher, Bellamy and Reina all making starts.
Liverpool will now find out their next opponent in the 4th round on Saturday.
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