Liam Tomkins emphasized the importance of the competition to this group. Winning the English Premier League just might be out of reach, there's no European adventure and anything can happen in the FA Cup. The Carling Cup has different meanings for different teams. It could be Liverpool's best chance for silverware.
@liam_tomkins: I think #LFC will win the Carling Cup this season. We will take it more seriously than any other PL team.
The Reds were awesome at the start of the game, largely due to some fluid and devastating attacking play. Craig Bellamy made the early impact with his pace and finished off a nice move with the game’s opening goal. DJ Spoony himself noted the Welshman’s impact.
@TheRealDjSpoony: Bellamy has added pace, urgency and a great footballing brain to the centre of our attack. Movement and running off the ball a joy. #ynwa
Karl Thyer would not let us forget that much-travelled Bellamy is in the twighlight of his career. You'd never know from his man of the match performance against Brighton.
@Karlton81: I'm Loving Bellamy being back in Red, great signing … age is nothing but a number for this fella!! #LFC
The first half passed with relative ease for the Reds as they took a 1-0 lead into the break. Who knows what galvanized the Brighton players, but the turnaround from the first to the second half was stunning. One supporter said it in two succinct posts.
Binay Raut: A lot better from liverpool but still they are not taking the chances and finishing off the game.
(10 minutes later…) Second half not looking good for liverpool.
It was a nervous second half for Liverpool, as the energetic Brighton bunch looked like they might level the score. The good-feeling around introduction of Steve Gerrard after a 6-month injury layoff was clear to those present and watching.
@IndoDagger5: Suarez off – Gerrard on! Welcome back, Captain Fantastic! Good luck! #YNWA
With Gerrard on and Liverpool back in flow, Dirk Kuyt seemed to put the game out of Brighton's reach by finishing off a swift counterattack. Bellamy started it in the LFC half and played it to forward to Maxi Rodriguez. The Argentine drove through the Brighton midfield and laid it off to Kuyt. The Dutchman’s finish to the far post was followed by the classic parents' goal celebration, notes Brianne O'Hare.
@brianne09: Finally the woodwork helped us lol! Awwwww cute, I forgot Kuyt had a baby recently, love baby-rocking goal celebrations <3 #LFC
LFC would have liked to keep the clean sheet, but that would not be the case. Brighton got the goal that was just rewards for their second half effort. Unfortunately for defender Jaimie Carragher, Jay Spearing slipped in the penalty area and Vicente collected the loose ball. The veteran Liverpool defender brought the Spanish winger down with a desperate tackle. Hussain Arti is losing patience with the loyal club servant.
@HussainArti: new mistake from Carragher cost #LFC a goal. We want a new generation in defense #NewGeneration
And there you have it. The Reds move on to the fourth round of the Carling Cup by beating the Seagulls of Brighton 2-1. It wasn't as easy a game as some would predict, but it doesn't really matter. Liverpool will find out their round-of-16 opponent on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Flickr/robertolsen
