Three own goals helped Liverpool ease past Brighton to secure an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Stoke.
Martin Skrtel gave the Carling Cup finalists the lead before Kazenga LuaLua levelled from 25 yards. Brighton’s Liam Bridcutt put through his own net before Liverpool striker Andy Carroll made it 3-1.
Two more own goals came from Bridcutt and Lewis Dunk before Luis Suarez completed the rout just minutes after missing a late penalty. It was a resounding victory for Kenny Dalglish’s side ahead of next Sunday’s Wembley date with Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final.
Liverpool’s trophy cabinet has been gathering dust for six years, but suddenly they find themselves within touching distance of an FA Cup-Carling Cup double after their biggest win since Dalglish returned to the helm last January.
Almost 29 years on to the day, Brighton were back at the scene of their best-ever FA Cup victory – a 2-1 triumph at Anfield, on their way to the 1983 final.
But the visitors found themselves behind in only the fifth minute when Skrtel, Liverpool’s form player of late, took advantage of poor marking by Ashley Barnes from Steven Gerrard’s corner to arrow a close-range near-post header past Peter Brezovan.
Brighton had been here before. When the sides met back in September in the Carling Cup, Liverpool edged ahead thanks to Craig Bellamy’s early goal before running out winners.
