Liverpool’s top players shone as the Reds cruised to the 5th round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win vs. Brighton. Here are the Top 3 things we learned after 90 minutes of action at Anfield.
Salah & Jones Can Still Produce
Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones have had troubled moments this season, but it is clear from their production today that they are valuable assets to the club. Jones has seen his minutes dwindle, but says he is still happy to be part of the club and win.
“I want to win everything. I obviously play as a fan as well, and I know what the fans expect. On top of being a fan, I obviously know what it's like to play for a team like this - you have to win things, whether that's the Champions League or the Premier League. If you don't win them, which are the main two, then there's another two we can go and win. We're obviously in the Champions League still and the FA Cup as well, a big cup in England. It would obviously be great if we could come away with those two. But there's still plenty of games to play, so we're taking each game as it comes. Hopefully, at the end of the year, we come away with the Champions League and FA Cup."
As for Salah, according to OptaStats, since the start of last season, he has garnered both a goal and an assist in 15 different games across all competitions. That's the most of any EPL player in that stretch, by a wide margin. Erling Haaland is next on the list with just 6.
Slot’s Gamble Pays Off
I predicted that Arne Slot would go with lesser-known players in the Starting XI. After all, he is pushing for a Top-4 spot on the League Table and in the knockout phase of the Champions League. Many pundits thought he would save his top players for those competitions. But no.
Slot pulled off a surprise, with Alisson in goal, Konate and Van Dijk on the back line, Szoboszlai in the midfield and Salah up top. That’s a lineup worthy of the Champions League, not a FA Cup tie. The fact that the Reds don’t play for 8 days may have had something to do with it, but I am still impressed that Slot went for this game the way he did.
More Good News
Just before the game, it was revealed that Alexander Isak has resumed light workouts with the team to return from injury in late March or early April. If he can come into a side that is rounding into form, that could be the help and push Liverpool needs to achieve Champions League qualification or lift a trophy or two.
