Kaoru Mitoma’s juggling goal knocks holders Liverpool out of the FA Cup
By Sam Dean at the Amex Stadium
Kaoru Mitoma is not the sort of footballer who seeks the limelight. On a day off from training, the Japanese forward is far more likely to be found at home on the sofa, analysing videos of his own performances, than in the trendy quarters of Brighton.
And even when he does venture out, Mitoma is hardly the most recognisable figure. With his slight build and floppy fringe, he usually goes unnoticed. Well, he has done until now – and that is surely all about to change.
A genuine star of the English game is emerging on the south coast, where Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton continue to show no fear of their more illustrious opponents. The whirling feet of Mitoma embody that bold approach and, for the second time in two weeks, the winger proved to be too quick and too inventive for a struggling Liverpool.
Mitoma’s winning goal here, struck in the 92nd minute, was just the latest demonstration of his considerable talent. One touch to cut inside, fooling a pack of red-shirted defenders, and another to slam the ball into the roof of the net.
OH. MY. WORD.@kaoru_mitoma with a late stunner for @OfficialBHAFC 🤯#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/R6bfaXSGVW
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 29, 2023
Such was the speed of the movement, and such was the quality of the execution, that the ball did not even make contact with the floor between those touches. A ‘keepy-uppy’ goal, against Liverpool, in the final minute of a thrilling FA Cup tie: Mitoma continues to go from strength to strength, from defining moment to defining moment.
As for Liverpool, where do they go from here? It was a measure of their current situation that Jurgen Klopp took heart from this defeat being less shameful than their previous trip to the Amex Stadium, just two weeks ago. On that occasion they were humiliated, losing 3-0, and Klopp said he could not remember a worse game in his entire managerial career.
Klopp’s argument was that this narrow 2-1 loss at the same venue, just a few days later, was a sign of progress. But this is Liverpool he is talking about, and these are not the standards that their supporters have come to expect. Liverpool are ninth in the Premier League, out of the FA Cup and with just one win from six matches in 2023.
“We made a step in the right direction,” said Klopp. “But you can imagine nobody wants to hear that any more. I cannot hear it any more. But it is still right.
“We have to improve and the body language from a couple of the boys has to be much better. We have to keep working. There is nothing else to do.”
There were moments here when they looked like their old selves again, if only for a few seconds at a time. A glimpse of Mohamed Salah here, a surging run from Harvey Elliott there. Their goal was classic Liverpool, with Elliott providing the finishing touch after a thrusting counter-attack.
But Brighton were never suffocated, and they never stopped trying to play through the Liverpool press. The home players found gaps and, much to Klopp’s irritation, struck both of their goals from set pieces. A permanent air of vulnerability seemed to hang over Liverpool, especially when Mitoma received the ball on the wing.
It is not so long since Klopp’s players were in contention for four titles. Now, their targets are entirely different. The focus is not on collecting silverware but on finding some consistency, on bedding Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo into the attack and on coping with the long list of injuries that have ravaged their squad.
A return of only two shots on target summarised the issues that Liverpool are currently facing and it was striking to note how they shrunk in the second half. At their best, Liverpool seize control of smaller teams and effectively run them into submission. Here, it was the other way around as Brighton grew in stature.
By the end, Liverpool were reduced to kicking lumps out of their opponents, with substitute Fabinho inflicting a particularly painful tackle on young Evan Ferguson, Brighton’s teenage striker. Ferguson could not play on. “Not cool,” Klopp admitted of Fabinho’s challenge.
Brighton’s evolution under De Zerbi, meanwhile, is fast becoming one of the most eye-catching storylines of this season and it was telling that the Italian said he “did not like” many aspects of his team’s performance.
He did, however, appreciate the courage of his players. “The most important thing in football is blood, heart and balls,” he said in his improving English. “Not normal balls. Balls, you understand?”
Having fallen behind, Brighton deserved their equaliser when it arrived. It was a fortuitous goal, though, as Tariq Lamptey’s shot deflected off Lewis Dunk’s foot on the edge of the box.
Brighton’s players will say you earn your luck, of course, and they certainly battled with intensity until Mitoma’s moment of genius at the death. They also fought on without midfielder Moises Caicedo, who was due to start the match before making it clear that he wants to leave the club this month. Arsenal have had one bid rejected and are expected to return with another.
Brighton have lost players – and indeed coaches – before, but they continue to progress. In the end, this meeting with Liverpool provided another example of their ability to find a way forward, no matter the circumstances. Liverpool might recognise some of those fighting qualities, even if they remain curiously absent from Klopp’s side at the moment.
Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Liverpool 1: As it happened
03:52 PM
A brutally honest Andy Robertson speaks to ITV - ' We need to start winning games, easy to say, harder to fix'
On the defeat...
"It was a proper cup tie, it was end-to-end, both teams had chances. We were better [than during the 3-0 defeat two weeks ago] but that's not hard, we were nowhere near good enough two weeks ago. We had more chances [today] but at end of day we're out and that's hard to take at a club like Liverpool."
On what they need to do to turn the season around...
"We need to start winning games, easy to say harder to fix. This season no where near good enough. We hoped that the new year we could [turn it around] and restart. But we've probably been worse since the new year. It's really disappointing. You cannot put a finger on one thing that's gone wrong, lots of things are clicking at the moment. We're still open defensively, we let in two disappointing goals...we need to try and get confidence back but that's easier said than done. We need to scre goals and keep clean sheets, that's how you win and we're not doing that at the moment...we've let [our fans] down and we're really disappointed to be out."
03:44 PM
The fourth round curse?
3 - The FA Cup holders have been eliminated in the fourth round in each of the last three seasons (Arsenal in 2020-21, Leicester in 2021-22 and Liverpool in 2022-23). Relinquished. pic.twitter.com/w4E4WRVGef
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 29, 2023
03:42 PM
Mitoma was brilliant
He was the best player on the pitch, everything he did asked questions of Alexander-Arnold and the rest of the Liverpool side. His brilliant winner - as I said, sort of similar to Bergkamp's winner against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup - encapsulated his performance and everything he is about as a player.
8/11 - Kaoru Mitoma has either scored or assisted in eight of his last 11 appearances for Brighton in all competitions (6 goals, 2 assists). Consistency. pic.twitter.com/NMvL6KpXQR
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 29, 2023
03:37 PM
Where now for Liverpool?
They're a million miles away from where they were. They looked good in the second half and you could argue that they controlled it. But at the moment aren't looking clinical and lack the cutting edge of previous seasons.
03:35 PM
Lewis Dunk speaks to ITV - 'We feel we can beat anyone'
On the win...
"Unbelievable ending, we weren't at out best today, nowhere near it [but we were able] to ground out a win."
On whether he mean't the touch that resulted in his goal...
"Of course I didn't! But I needed it as I haven't scored in a long time."
On Brighton's fine form...
"We feel like we can beat anyone when we play well and today we showed we can beat teams on our not so good days."
On matchwinner Mitoma...
"I am glad I am not chasing him, he's a top player and come out form nowhere."
On whether Brighton can go on to win the FA Cup...
"We'll see game by game, see what draw we'll get and get ready for that."
03:28 PM
The winner
MAGNIFICENT MITOMA. SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT. 😱
What a way to win the tie! 🤩@OfficialBHAFC | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/cFUg1dUMJF— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 29, 2023
03:28 PM
FULL TIME: Brighton 2-1 Liverpool
Mitoma's great goal won it for the hosts who were, just, worth their win, a second over Liverpool in as many weeks. Brighton are having a brilliant season and this match illustrated why. They look adventurous in attack and fear no one. The effervescent Mitoma personifies the team, he was brilliant today and his winner reward for his efforts.
03:20 PM
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!
Brighton 2-1 Liverpool (Mitoma)
The answer to the question posed in the previous post is a definitive 'YES'. Gross' free kick is delivered to the back post, the ball is directed across the box when Mitoma takes a brilliant first touch, then with his second flummoxes Gomez, that sets up a hit with the outside of his right boot (sort of a la Bergkamp against Argentina in the '98 World Cup quarter-final) that ends with the ball in the roof of the net. Lovely finish from a player who's lit up this match. After a VAR check - as is seemingly regulation now - the goal stands!.
03:20 PM
88 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Lewis Dink gets the man of the match award as it's revealed that there will be five minutes added time, I thought there'd be more than that. As I type Robertson adds to the list of the tough challenges as he puts his studs on the top of Mac Allister's boot.
Can they make something happen from this free kick?
03:16 PM
84 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
There have been a few overzealous challenges this match and Fabinho adds to the list with a boot to the back of Ferguson's calf. He knows immediately it's a bad challenge with the young Brighton man down - he escapes with just a yellow card. That looked as though it hurt. The Irishman is down and being seen to by the medical staff before hobbling off to be replaced by Undav.
03:12 PM
81 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Having done so brilliantly with that block Konate then is beaten for pace by Mac Allister and the Liverpool man looks as though he brings down the World Cup winner with an overzealous right arm. David Coote waves play on and the replay shows that perhaps that was the wrong call. The Liverpool defender could well have seen red for that and because it happened outside the box VAR cannot intervene...
03:09 PM
78 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
March does well down the right - he's had aa good game - and delivers into the box. There's a half-hearted attempt to clear the ball and it falls at the feet of Ferguson. His first-time shot is brilliantly blocked by Konate - that was a vital intervention.
03:07 PM
78 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Despite the electronic board being broken Liverpool are able to make a change - Thiago is off for Curtis Jones.
03:06 PM
76 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Drama at the Amex - the electronic substitute board is broken...as Ally McCoist says on ITV comms, 'the injury board is injured.'
03:04 PM
74 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Robertson gets forward on the left and fends off the challenge of Lamptey before putting in a low cross that Steele, in the Brighton goal, does well to claim.
03:02 PM
71 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Great move, great cross and great chance for Brighton.
Mitoma has the ball on the left and hits a delightful ball with the outside of his right boot into the 'corridor of uncertainty' that March gets on the end of. But Alisson does brilliantly to smother the attempt and the rebound comes back off the Brighton man and off the pitch, rather than into the back of the net.
03:00 PM
If you don't think this is a yellow then...
...refereeing isn't for you.
02:58 PM
69 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Milner earns Liverpool a corner thanks to a rampaging run into the box. Alas, the visitors cannot create anything from the set piece. This half has struggled to hit the heights of the first period. With just over 20 minutes to go we'll now see how much these sides are willing to avoid a replay.
02:56 PM
68 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Billy Gilmour has come on for Danny Welbeck for his first appearance since New Year's eve.
02:54 PM
65 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Decent intricate, quick move from Liverpool , that features Thiago, Henderson and Robertson in and around the box, ends with Thiago unable to get a shot away. Looked good to see though, one-touch passing etc etc.
02:51 PM
62 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Gakpo shows Dunk a clear pair of heels as the Dutchman drives away from the Brighton man. Dunk then decides to pull the Liverpool player's shirt and it's as clear a yellow card as you are likely to see.
02:50 PM
60 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Chance for the visitors as Salah is played in thanks to a brilliant ball from the right. The Egyptian's first touch takes him wide of the onrushing Steele before his cross is parried by the Brighton keeper - warning signs for the hosts.
02:48 PM
58 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Changes for Liverpool - Milner, Henderson and Nunez are one, TAA, Kieta and Elliott are off. TAA doesn't look too happy, but he has been terrorised by Mitoma this afternoon.
02:46 PM
55 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
From famine to feast - from having been comprehensively beaten by Mitoma in defence the Liverpool right back then illustrates what he has in attack, delivering a peach of a first-time cross for Salah. The Egyptian was offside, but once again TAA shows what he gives you when in possession and it's great to see.
02:44 PM
54 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Chance for Brighton all thanks to the industry and imagination of Mitoma. He takes on and beats TAA on the right before dinking in a cross that March chests down to Gross. The Brighton midfielder's volley floes over the bar, it just wouldn't sit down for him.
02:42 PM
52 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
It's not been as lively this half so far as the previous 45 minutes. The first half was bubbling with edge and plenty of chances for both sides - cannot say the same about the action since the break.
02:39 PM
49 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Brighton have starter the better of the two this half and as I type Mac Allister earns a free kick thanks to a clumsy Gakpo challenge. The hosts have a free kick 30 yards out, possibly too far for an attempt at goal...that's is unless you're Lewis Dunk who decides to float it towards the far corner. It looked a little tame but sort of flirted with the idea of going in while it was in the air for what seemed like 10 seconds.
02:35 PM
47 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Dunk plays a brilliant ball for Mitoma who is as effervescent as ever. His reward is an overzealous challenge from TAA that is deemed OK by the ref, David Coote.
02:33 PM
45 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Change for Brighton sees Webster, who has been nursing a thigh strain, replaced by Veltman.
02:32 PM
Thoughts of De Zerbi at the break
"We can play better we made too many mistakes and have to improve if we want to win."
02:25 PM
Young and talented (annoying for us older folk...)
5 - Harvey Elliott is the highest scoring teenager for any Premier League club this season in all competitions (5 goals); the last @LFC teenager to score more goals in a season was Raheem Sterling in 2013-14 (10). Promise. pic.twitter.com/sjordzC7EJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 29, 2023
02:19 PM
Did Dunk mean this?
Brighton won't care either way...
Brighton are level - but Lamptey or Dunk... whose goal was it?@OfficialBHAFC | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/lwQAmuldw9
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 29, 2023
02:18 PM
HALF TIME: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
It's been a lively and enjoyable first 45 minutes and a draw is a fair scoreline. Both have looked good in attack and it's made for an entertaining affair - this could go either way.
02:17 PM
45 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
There will be two minutes of added time.
02:16 PM
41 mins: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
Great first touch from Elliott - truly a thing of beauty and worthy of Zidane (I'll try and find a video of it for you to salivate over) - sets up another chance for Liverpool, but somehow Brighton clear the danger. I've enjoyed this half of football - a million times more entertaining than the tactical battle we saw on Friday between Man City and Arsenal.
02:09 PM
GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLL!
Brighton 1-1 Liverpool (Dunk)
TAA heads a Mac Allister cross clear and, what looks like, well. But Lamptey decides to have a pop from all of 32 yards. It's a low, first-time shot that is heading for the bottom right corner and more likely than not, an Alisson save. BUT on the way it flicks off Dunk's boot and ends up in the left corner to give the Liverpool keeper no chance. Brighton have deserved that but of good fortune.
02:09 PM
Composed finish from Elliott
That Salah x Elliott combination ⚡️@LFC | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/LHTYMTEfv3
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 29, 2023
02:06 PM
33 mins: Brighton 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool haven't conceded in their past two games and you got the feeling that Klopp is focusing on the backline more than the attack in the bid to get the season back on track. Can Brighton get back into this match - on the evidence of the first 30 minutes you'd have to say 'yes'...we wait to find out.
02:00 PM
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLL!
Brighton 0-1 Liverpool (Elliott)
Lovely counter attack from the visitors. Keita plays in Salah down the right. The Egyptian drives into the final third before playing in Elliot who makes a run in the inside-right channel. The youngster keeps his cool to hit it into the far corner. There is a VAR check for a possible handball by Keita but the goal stands.
01:59 PM
Mo Salah look away now...
Here is that chance in glorious Technicolor...
That vision from Harvey Elliott 🤩
What a chance for Salah 😲@LFC | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/uwAwyIj9Wq— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 29, 2023
01:57 PM
24 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Everything about this Liverpool move is brilliant - the run from Salah, the through ball from Elliott - right up until the Egyptian's shot which, one on one with Steele, should have at least hit the target. Instead the out-of-form Salah drags his left foot attempt wide of the far, right upright. Not sure how this match is still goalless.
01:54 PM
That great chance for Ferguson
Even Ferguson is free in the box and shoots
TAA is to the rescue for Liverpool clearing it off the line.
01:52 PM
21 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
This Brighton side can be such a joy to watch. Mitoma attacks once again with purpose coming in off the left flank before playing a one-two with Ferguson. The Japan international then cut back onto his left and shot is saved by Alisson.
01:51 PM
18 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Good game so far - both sides attacking well with Brighton having the better chances. There have been 28 goals in the six Brighton games since the World Cup so you'd expected this to be anything but a 0-0 and the opening exchanges would appear to back up that view. Fingers crossed...
01:48 PM
13 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Great chance for Brighton and only great defending on the line from TAA prevents Liverpool from going down 1-0. Brighton break through March on the right with Robertson is caught out of position, up field on the left. The ball comes into the box and Ferguson has the freedom of the south coast. Unfortunately the young striker cannot capitalise with his shot blocked by TAA. That should have resulted in a 1-0 lead for the hosts.
01:43 PM
10 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Harvey Elliot has a go from distance but he doesn't connect and it's an easy save for Steele. Still quite an open affair.
01:41 PM
7 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Mitoma is a good player - since he's come into the side in October he's always looked dangerous and direct. He beats TAA and delivers a good cross that Liverpool defend well.
01:39 PM
5 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold (TAA for the rest of this blog) has his fair share of critics who claim he's not the best defender, which, when you're a defender, isn't the best criticism. But there's little doubting his ability with the ball at his feet. He plays a delightful ball with the outside of his right boot for Salah which ultimately results in a corner for the visitors. Brighton clear the danger from the set piece.
01:35 PM
3 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Good, lively start to this cup tie - no sooner have Brighton put Liverpool under pressure than the visitors charge up the other end of the pitch. Salah has a shot that is blocked and then another attempt that Dunk prevents from ending in the back of the net. Three minutes in and it's already an open affair - let's hope that continues as the matches on TV this weekend have been more prosaic...
01:34 PM
2 mins: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Brighton have started brightly with Marsch and Lamptey combining well on the right. They earn their side a corner - an early chance to put pressure on Liverpool? Indeed it is as March delivers a deep ball that Alisson claims well.
01:30 PM
1 min: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
They're under way at the Amex - both wearing their first-team tops, Brighton in their blue and white and Liverpool in their famous red, no garish away numbers today.
What would constitute a surprise today? A Liverpool win?
01:27 PM
The teams are out on the pitch
And the start of the match is moments away.
01:26 PM
Will Mo finds his scoring boots today?
01:09 PM
Jurgen Klopp speaks - 'I didn't become a bad manager overnight'
On Liverpool's form and his role...
"I didn't become a bad manager overnight. I was never as good as people probably said and not as bad as some people might think. How you behave and how you deal with the situation in these moments decides about the future as well."
On today's match...
"It's tough, I'm sorry, but we will go for it with all we have to get out of it and then to do it in a way that people can't wait to go to the stadium again."
01:07 PM
Roberto de Zerbi speaks - 'We hope Caicedo stays with us until the end of the season'
On the relevance of Brighton's 3-0 win over Liverpool two weeks ago...
"It will be a different game. It will be a difficult game. We will try to win the game but we know Liverpool is a great team."
On the future of Moises Caicedo...
"Moises is a good guy, we will see tomorrow and the next days what happens. We hope he stays with us until the end of the season...In life you can make mistake. For everyone there are many solutions. We will see the best solution for him and for us."
01:05 PM
It's a bit of understatement to say this season...
...isn't going according to plan for Liverpool. Mo Salah personifies the side's problems - as with his side the Egyptian isn't playing to the same level he was last year.
Salah was a subdued figure in Liverpool’s slog of a draw against Chelsea and failed to register a shot on target for the third successive Premier League game.
So what's gone wrong for the brilliant and hugely likeable player?
Here Dan Zeqiri delves into the Egyptian's form and tries to answer that tricky question.
12:52 PM
The teams in black and white - Moises Caicedo left out
BRIGHTON XI TO FACE LIVERPOOL: Steele; Lamptey, Dunk, Webster, Estupinan; March, Gross, Mac Allister, Mitoma; Ferguson, Welbeck. Subs: Sanchez, Sarmiento, Enciso, Undav, Gilmour, Van Hecke, Veltman, Moran, Hinshelwood.
The big news for the hosts is that Moises Caicedo is not in the starting XI. A target for Arsenal, the Ecuadorian put in a transfer request via Instagram (as you do these days...) on Friday. Roberto de Zerbi has made four changes with Jason Steele, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster and Evan Ferguson all coming in.
LIVERPOOL XI TO FACE BRIGHTON: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Gomez, Robertson, Bajcetic, Thiago, Keita, Elliott, Salah, Gakpo. Subs: Kelleher, Fabinho, Milner, Henderson
Jurgen Klopp has made just the one change from the side that drew with Chelsea last week - Trent Alexander-Arnold returns with James Milner sitting the start out.
12:43 PM
Here be Brighton
COME ON ALBION! 💪 Here's our starting XI to face @LFC this afternoon. 📝
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIeLz3 // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/rWDGsHVAdV— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 29, 2023
12:43 PM
Here's the Liverpool XI
Team news 📋
Your #BHALIV line-up for this afternoon 🔴— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 29, 2023
12:37 PM
Liverpool back at Brighton, the scene of their troubling defeat
Some say the best way to get over traumatic events is to revisit them as soon as possible. I know of someone who survived a plane crash (a small 10-seater type craft) in Africa and his wife, who as luck would have it was a psychologist, made him get on an aircraft two days later. It ensured he was able to fly without too many fears for the rest of his life and in many ways today's match at Brighton may serve the same psychological purpose for Liverpool.
It is barely two weeks since Jurgen Klopp's side lost 3-0 on the south coast against an ever-improving and impressive Brighton. Losing to Roberto De Zerbi's no huge sin, but it was the manner of the defeat that so troubled Liverpool's manager. Klopp described it as the worst performance by a side he's managed. Considering he's now presided over 1,000 games as the main man in the dugout that's some statement.
“I can’t remember a worse game, not only at Liverpool. I really can’t. This is a really low point," Klopp said after the chastening loss at the Amex earlier this month.
It was a loss that wasn't just bad in and of itself, it summed up and encapsulated a season that has not gone according to plan for Liverpool. They sit ninth in the Premier league table, are without a win in three matches and, as the performance at Brighton illustrated, lack all the vim and vigour for which they've been known these past few, successful years.
Such is the state of their season that the FA Cup may well take on some significance for Klopp's side. They need wins and they need something, anything to lift the mood at Anfield. And where better to start than at the stadium where they so meekly lost?
Today is a chance to right the many wrongs of the 3-0 defeat of two week ago - to face the fear and troubles and, metaphorically, get back on the plane and restart their season.
Stay here for all the team news, pre-match build-up and action.
