A L B I O N G A Z E T T E xxxi
14 FEBRUARY 2026
LIVERPOOL 3 RIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0
EMIRATES FA CUP, FOURTH ROUND, at
ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL.
As a change from their league schedule the Albion travelled North to take on Liverpool at Anfield in the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup, the match being broadcast by TNT Sports 1 and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous outing the Seagulls had lost 0-1 at Aston Villa in the Premier on the 11 February and for their visit to Anfield the Albion made three changes to their starting line-up from the Villa game, with Jason Steele, Harry Howell and Charalampos Kostoulas replacing Bart Verbruggen, Danny Welbeck and Kaoru Mitoma.
Last time out Liverpool had won 1-0 at Sunderland in the Premier on the 11 February and for Albion's visit Head Coach Arne Slot made four changes to his starting line-up from the Sunderland game, with Curtis Jones, Milos Kerkez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Federico Chiesa replacing Wataru Endo, Andrew Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike.
This was Albion's second visit to Anfield this season, having gone down 0-2 in the Premier on the 13 December 2025.
There was a quiet start to the game but eventually Albion's Ferdi Kadioglu had a shot which Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal saved with ease and at the other end Curtis Jones curled shot just missed the target. On 36 minutes Liverpool thought they had taken the lead after Cody Gakpo headed home a free-kick by Dominik Szoboszlai but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Within minutes Albion keeper Jason Steele made a fine save when tipping over Milos Kerkez's long-range effort over the bar. The home side took the lead on 42 minutes when Kerkez's cross from the left was guided home by Jones for Liverpool's opener. 0-1.
There was still time for Albion to miss two gilt-edged chances prior to the break as the unmarked Jack Hinshelwood headed over from a corner and Diego Gomez was sent clear but his scuffed shot was easily saved by keeper Alisson Becker.
Half-time 0-1.
Ten minutes into the second-half Liverpool doubled their lead when Mohamed Salah's deft pass found Szoboszlai whose first-time strike flashed in the Albion net. 0-2. The match was over on 68 minutes when Salah left Kadioglu in his wake before Pascal Gross fouled the Egyptian in the box and Salah calmly converted the resultant penalty-kick. 0-3.
Liverpool saw the game out with ease to earn themselves a place in the Fifth Round. Another bad day at the office for the misfiring Seagulls.
Final-score 0-3.
Match stats:
Albion had 18 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 19.
Liverpool had 13 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 15.
VERDICT - With 2 wins in their last 15 competitive games, the Albion are in a downward spiral of form with Premier League survival their only focus. Their inability to convert the chances they create is of great concern and which situation needs to be remedied. Next up is a difficult trip to in-form Brentford.
Albion line-up (4-3-3):- Jason STEELE; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE (Olivier BOSCAGLI 72), Lewis DUNK (Capt), Ferdi KADIOGLU; Pascal GROSS, Carlos BALEBA (Kaoru MITOMA 62), Jack HINSHELWOOD (Mats WIEFFER 81); Harry HOWELL (Yankuba MINTEH 62), Charalampos KOSTOULAS, Diego GOMEZ (Georginio RUTTER 62).
Subs not used: Bart VERBRUGGEN (G/K), Maxim DE CUYPER, James MILNER, Danny WELBECK.
Liverpool line-up (4-2-3-1):- Alisson BECKER; Curtis JONES (Treymaurice NYONI 89), Ibrahima KONATE, Virgil VAN DIJK (Capt), Milos KERKEZ; Dominik SZOBOSZLAI, Alexis MAC ALLISTER; Mohamed SALAH (Rio NGUMOHA 77), Florian WIRTZ (Joe GOMEZ 71), Cody GAKPO (Calvin RAMSAY 89); Federico CHIESA (Hugo EKITIKE 77).
Subs not used: Giorgi MAMARDASVILI (G/K), Ryan GRAVENBERCH, Kieran MORRISON, Andrew ROBERTSON.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Fourth Official: Adam Herczeg.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 4 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Carlos Baleba, Diego Gomez.
Possession: Albion - 53%. Liverpool - 47%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool).
Attendance: 60227.
NEXT GAME:
21 FEBRUARY 2026 - BRENTFORD - AWAY - PREMIER LEAGUE -
KICK-OFF 15.00.
Jack Kaye.
19 February 2026.