The FA Cup is a matter of greater significance in these parts than it has been for some years and if Liverpool can make their way to silverware, then the man with the rolled down socks and very intense look on his face may prove to be one of the signature players of this year’s tournament.
Milos Kerkez has taken some time to convince the Liverpool public. There has been an adjustment to British football to make and the Kop’s understandable embrace of Andy Robertson, arguably the greatest warrior soul among Jurgen Klopp’s band of brothers. Kerkez has taken his share of negativity.
But the 22-year-old left back provided sparkle and the steel last night, delivering the cross from the wide area which met the arriving Curtis Jones and sent the side on their way — and far more besides.
It was he who added the fizz to a game which took time to burst into life. A take-down and shot on an angle which Jason Steele touched over, to go with a beautiful cut back and shot, from an offside position it turned out, 20 minutes earlier.
And then, within five minutes of setting up Jones, he was going nose to nose with Brighton, holding his ground. There is no more improved Liverpool player these past few months than this.
It was a night for remembering some of the football giants of this club. A public message of support for Kevin Keegan, on his 75th birthday, contending with cancer treatment, and mentions in dispatches for Bob Paisley, arguably Liverpool’s greatest manager, who passed away 30 years ago on Saturday.
Liverpool swept aside Brighton 3-0 as Curtis Jones (centre) made his case for more minutes
Dominik Szoboszlai doubled Liverpool’s lead after Jones’ opener in the first half
Mohamed Salah held his badge as he faces the Kop after wrapping up a comprehensive win
In the here and now, there was the more prosaic challenge of resolving the injury problems that have deprived Slot of almost every serviceable right back. And so it was that Jones, whose struggle to make inroads at the only club he has known since the age of nine saw Inter Milan make an approach for him in January, was pressed into an emergency role he has hardly ever filled.
The way he ghosted in from the deep to receive Kerkez’s cross just before half-time, adroitly keeping down the rising ball as he put Liverpool ahead, was testament to the fact that he has deserved more chances this season than Slot has granted him, by steadfastly sticking to Alexis Mac Allister instead. His knowing look and grin to those he knew in the crowd told the story. It was his first goal since 2024.
Slot said of him last night: ‘Curtis is a very good player but he is playing in a midfield line where I have many good players. If he played in another position, he would play much, much, much more.’
Mo Salah then signed his name across the night, 63 days on from his unexpected and redemptive early arrival from the bench in the home league game here against Brighton at the height of his dispute with Slot.
His sumptuous stop volleyed pass which sent the ball into Dominik Szoboszlai’s path to despatch a gorgeous second. His jinking run in the box which drew a foul from Pascal Gross and won the penalty which he converted.
‘It’s nice having him on the scoresheet again and having an assist but he also helps the team defensively. That is also what the team needs,’ Slot said of Salah. ‘More and more players now are capable of playing at this intensity level every three days.’
The visitors showed intent for the opening 10 minutes, when the pace of the Greek forward Charalampos Koustoulas tested Virgil van Dijk, but faded badly.
‘We are not in a good moment. We can only come out and show personality,’ said manager Fabian Hurzeler, who railed against the penalty decision. The side showed little attacking threat, yet Danny Welbeck unfathomably remained benched.
Milos Kerkez, who has often been criticised this season, put in a brilliant performance
Salah held the badge to the Kop when he converted his spot-kick but almost overlooked in the excellent build-up was Kerkez’s dummy run, disorientating the retreating defence.
The sound of ‘We’re going to win the Cup’ struck up at the end in a rather old-school way. It feels like they’re finding some light here, after a long and difficult winter.
