Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo shone at the Amex Stadium, scoring twice in the second half to seal a thrilling 3-2 victory over Brighton, advancing the Reds to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Gakpo, who also scored twice in the previous round against West Ham, now has eight goals in eight appearances in the competition. Reflecting on his performance, he shared, “Every time I step onto the pitch, I want to contribute to the team’s success, and today I’m happy I could make the difference. These moments are special, and the support from the fans keeps pushing us forward.”
In a game that started with few chances, Gakpo broke the deadlock just seconds after halftime. Released on the left flank by Tyler Morton, he showcased his s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 by cutting inside to strike a beautiful shot into the far corner. Brighton, however, mounted a strong response, with Adingra almost leveling the score if not for a brilliant save by Liverpool’s goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros. Yet Gakpo was unstoppable, scoring his second goal minutes later, seizing on an error by Brighton’s Lamptey and firing the ball past Jason Steele at the near post.
Despite Brighton’s late efforts, including goals from Adingra and a deflected strike by Lamptey, Liverpool held firm. Gakpo’s post-match remarks reflected Liverpool’s fighting spirit: “Brighton came at us hard, but we stayed composed. It’s about sticking to our game and knowing that each one of us has a role in pushing forward.”
With their impressive form under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool is poised to make a strong defense of their title, with a much-anticipated clash against Tottenham awaiting in the quarter-finals.
