Liverpool 3 – 0 Brighton: FA Cup Man of the Match
There are moments in a season when a signing stops being the replacement and starts becoming the man in possession of the shirt. Against Brighton, Milos Kerkez delivered one of those performances.
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Replacing Andy Robertson at Liverpool was never going to be straightforward. The £45m summer arrival from Bournemouth stepped into a role that demands relentless energy, tactical discipline and emotional authority. His opening months were steady rather than spectacular, but that inconsistency mirrored the team’s broader instability more than any individual shortcoming. Since the turn of the year, however, something has shifted.
Kerkez has become sharper, stronger and increasingly assertive. The tenacity that earned him a place in last season’s Premier League Team of the Year has begun to reappear with regularity — and in this FA Cup tie, it was on full display.
Brighton arrived wounded and defensively uncertain, and Kerkez sensed it early. From the opening whistle he drove forward with intent, stretching the pitch and forcing the Seagulls’ right side into retreat. His defensive duels were aggressive yet controlled; his distribution purposeful. It was the kind of modern fullback display that blends athleticism with intelligence.
A thunderous strike from distance, tipped over the bar, served as an early warning. Moments later came the breakthrough. Kerkez, reading the situation instantly, whipped a first-time cross into the heart of the penalty area. It was not hopeful — it was instinctive and precise. Curtis Jones, making a perfectly timed surge from deep, met it in stride to finish emphatically. The move was a study in timing, understanding and confidence.
For a 22-year-old still adapting to the expectations of Anfield, that assist felt symbolic.
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The second half was less explosive but equally impressive. With Liverpool protecting their lead, Kerkez showed maturity in managing his flank. His concentration never dipped. He tracked runners, won second balls and continued to offer an outlet when required. It was controlled aggression rather than chaos — a sign of development.
Dominik Szoboszlai rightly earned plaudits for his venomous second-half strike after seeing a first-half free kick ruled out for offside. The Hungarian midfielder is increasingly Liverpool’s emotional barometer. Yet on this occasion, it was his compatriot on the left who defined the contest.
Curtis Jones also deserves strong mention. His hybrid role, drifting between midfield and defensive zones, highlighted both tactical flexibility and technical assurance. He was excellent. But Kerkez’s influence spanned both phases of play with greater authority.
This was not merely a good performance; it was a statement. A reminder that Liverpool’s evolution under Arne Slot is beginning to settle, and that the long-term succession plan at left-back may already be secure.
Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction:
Liverpool 3 – 1 Brighton
