In a nail-biting match at the American Express Stadium, Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a fantastic 3-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

After a quiet first half that ended in a 0-0 draw, the match really picked up after the interval. Cody Gakpo, Liverpool's Dutch forward, got the scoring underway in the 46th minute with a spectacular effort. He made a move from the left and let fly with a powerful drive that left Brighton's defence and goalkeeper helpless. This amazing goal was his fourth in the competition, showing just how important he is to Liverpool's cup campaign.

Liverpool's young goalkeeper, Vítezslav Jaros, who made his full debut in this game, showed he was more than up to the task with a crucial one-handed save to deny Simon Adingra's close-range header, keeping the Reds in the lead.

As the game went on, Liverpool kept up the pressure. There was a great chance to double their lead from a fast break, but Gakpo made the sensible choice to pass to Dominik Szoboszlai and the shot was blocked by a determined Brighton defence.

But Gakpo wasn't going to be stopped from scoring a second goal. He made the most of a mistake by Tariq Lamptey to run clear and score his second of the night, which showed Liverpool were still in control.

Brighton, however, weren't ready to give up. Liverpool's defence faltered in the 81st minute, allowing Adingra to score and give the home supporters something to cheer about.

Brighton showed some late fight, with Tariq Lamptey getting on the end of a deflected effort in the final moments. But Liverpool's Luis Diaz had the final say, scoring a cleverly taken goal in the 85th minute to seal a 3-2 win for the Reds.

This win not only takes Liverpool closer to the Carabao Cup final, but it also shows the strength in depth and quality that Arne Slot has at his disposal. Brighton showed some promising signs under their current management with their spirited comeback and tight contest against the cup holders, despite the loss.

To sum up, Liverpool's match against Brighton in the Carabao Cup showed they can win important games away from home. It also demonstrated the strategic depth and individual brilliance within their squad. As they move forward in the competition, their performances are keeping fans and critics alike on their toes.