Cody Gakpo scored twice to help send holders Liverpool into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a thrilling victory at Brighton.
After a goalless and largely forgettable first half, Dutch forward Gakpo broke the deadlock a minute after the break in stunning fashion, cutting inside before launching an unstoppable drive into the back of the net.
The goal sparked the game into life and goalkeeper Vítezslav Jaros, making his full debut for the Reds, made a brilliant one-handed save moments later to keep out Simon Adingra’s header.
Evan Ferguson then fired over the bar but Liverpool had a golden chance to add a second when the visitors broke three on one, but Gakpo unselfishly decided to pass to Dominik Szoboszlai and his effort was blocked by the recovering Brighton defence.
However, Gakpo was not to be denied his second when a mistake by Tariq Lamptey allowed him to run unchallenged into the box and fire home.
Brighton pushed in the closing stages and got a goal back when a Liverpool defensive mistake was pounced upon and Adingra prodded in to halve the deficit.
That roused the home fans but Luis Diaz made sure of Liverpool’s progress when he squeezed in an 81st-minute third, despite a late deflected finish by Lamptey.
Liverpool will now face Southampton away in the week of 16 December.
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