UK media spots Mohamed Salah change as Arne Slot 'vindicated' in Liverpool win

Liverpool booked its place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield on Saturday, with Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah on target as the UK's media reacted

Mohamed Salah was near to his best again in Liverpool's win over Brighton(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool sailed into the FA Cup last 16 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield on Saturday in its fourth round clash.

After Curtis Jones broke the deadlock just before the interval, a beautifully crafted strike from Dominik Szoboszlai and a spot-kick from Mohamed Salah secured a second home victory of the campaign against the Seagulls.

It proved to be an ultimately satisfying evening in what has been an otherwise disappointing season. The Reds can now sit back and watch to see who they'll get in the fifth round as the quest for Arne Slot's second piece of silverware at Anfield continues.

As ever, Liverpool.com was in attendance at Anfield to see the Reds cruise into the next round, as were the UK's national media. Here's what they made of the win over Brighton...

Paul Joyce - The Times

"Liverpool have been waiting during these difficult recent months for a moment to send spirits soaring and for belief to flood back into their stride.

"When it came, it was as easy as one, two, three. A raking ball was delivered by Cody Gakpo from just inside his half over to the right where Mohamed Salah cushioned a sumptuous pass first time with his instep for the marauding Dominik Szoboszlai.

Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah were all on the scoresheet against Brighton

"The midfielder did not have to break stride before battering a rising shot beyond the Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper, Jason Steele, from a few yards inside the penalty area.

"On the touchline, Arne Slot shook his fists in celebration. A scintillating, three-touch team goal had extended Liverpool's advantage following Curtis Jones' first goal since Boxing Day 2024 and eased passage into the FA Cup fifth round."

Andy Hunter - The Guardian

"There was rancour and recrimination when Mohamed Salah last faced Brighton, at Anfield in December, along with doubt over whether he would be seen in a Liverpool shirt again.

"Fast forward two months and the Egyptian great is starting, scoring and shaping games for Arne Slot again. Appeasement between the pair is for the greater good.

"Salah produced a sublime assist, his fourth since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, and scored from the penalty spot as Liverpool moved into round five with a commanding victory over Fabian Hurzeler's struggling team.

"There was no evidence of Brighton not performing for their under-pressure manager but their lack of cutting edge was glaring, as was the case when visiting here in the Premier League."

Richard Jolly - The Independent

"Whatever the summer holds for him, Liverpool could enjoy the sight of Salah looking irrepressible.

"Perhaps, too, they could be grateful that what looked a crisis was defused. That may reflect well on Slot and if the Dutchman has had too few games this season when every decision he has made has brought a rich reward, this victory came with sweet vindication.

Mohamed Salah celebrates in front of the Kop after scoring(Image: Getty Images)

"As the Liverpool manager fielded his latest line-up without a specialist right-back, the assumption might have been that Dominik Szoboszlai was in the back four and Curtis Jones in midfield. Instead, it was the other way around.

"Each was on the scoresheet, and in a way that reflected the role Slot had given him. Jones scored for the first time since 2024 by materialising at the far post. Szoboszlai used his running power to burst through the inside-right channel and unleash his second unstoppable shot in as many weeks at Anfield."

Ian Herbert - Daily Mail

"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, 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."