Final 2-1 Liverpool: It's over. Liverpool are through to the last 16 of the Carling Cup. It was anything but easy for the Reds. They breezed through the first half, and should have scored again to prevent the hosts from doing what they did. Brighton came out and took the game to their Premiership guests in the second half, but were missing that extra bit of polish in the final third. 2-1 is a fair result in this one.
89th minute 2-1 Liverpool: It's a penalty for Brighton. Spearing attempts to play it out the area and slips. Vicente is first to the loose ball and Carragher fouls him in the area. Ashley Barnes fires it home from the spot, setting up a nervy four 4 minutes of extra time.
86th minute 2-0 Liverpool: Flanagan on for Kelly, who made a bright return to the starting 11, after this most recent bout of hamstring trouble.
81st minute 2-0 Liverpool: It's the Dutchman Kuyt with Liverpool's second. Brighton was exposed to the counter and Maxi Rodriguez laid it off to Kuyt on his right at the top of the area. Kuyt finishes to the far post and dedicates the goal to his newborn boy. Valiant effort by the hosts, but it doesn't look like they've got the quality to score two with so little time remaining.
77th minute 1-0 Liverpool: Gerrard on and sitting in the midfield with Spearing and Lucas. Suarez came off for the captain and Kuyt and Bellamy are leading the attack.
75th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Captain Fantastic is taking off his warmups and preparing to enter the game. It's just in time too. Liverpool has lost the drive they had so much of in the first half. Brighton have been the protagonists throughout this second half.
68th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Liverpool has lost that cutting edge in the final third. Kuyt, Suarez and Bellamy finding it hard to link with eachother. Is Maxi Rodriguez still out there?
61st minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Vicente is coming on for Buckley. Yes, that is the same Vicente that was so good for Valencia when they were one of Europe's top teams all those years ago. Yes, Rafa's Valencia.
59th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Spearing is booked for bringing down Noone, although he went down with minimal contact. Brighton have controlled the first 15 minutes of this half. You have to wonder what was said in that locker room during the break. Whatever it was, it's working so far. We'll assume Noone gave the talk.
55th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Brighton and their crowd have opened the second half with an increased sense of purpose and determination. The Amex stadium is filled with noise. Sparrow tests Reina with a shot from close range on the left, but the Spaniard is equal to it.
46th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: We're underway in the 2nd half. A second LFC goal just might bury Brighton. An equalizer will make things quite interesting (understatement). And just like that, Brighton's first shot rattles the crossbar. It's Noone again. His LFC-supporting family and friends are in attendance and he's giving them a good show.
45 minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Brighton miss a golden opportunity to level the score. Reina makes a save, but the rebound slips behind him. Kelly and Craig Noone arrive at the same time and the Liverpool supporter's shot goes wide. LFC lucky and unsure in defense for the first time today.
41st minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Brighton have a penalty appeal waved away. MF William Buckley was trying to dribble past Kelly and went down in the area. Referee was standing right next to the action and waved play on.
38th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: The referee has given the game's first yellow card. It goes to Brighton midfielder Alan Navarro, who fouled Suarez 40 yards from goal. The Uruguayan's movement has been impressive today, causing many problems for Brighton's defenders.
31st minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Brighton not mounting much of a threat so far. Spearing and Lucas are doing a good job sitting deep, breaking up attacks and feeding the ball to the four attackers (Kuyt, Rodriguez, Suarez and Bellamy).
26th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Suarez sent in with a nice flick by Kuyt, but shoots wide. Kuyt holding the ball well and making some good passes in the final third. LFC missed that and his ever-present energy when he's on the bench.
18th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Kuyt nearly scores after Brighton 'keeper Ankergren fails to punch an easy ball away. The Dutchman's header from an impossible angle is cleared off the line by a defender. The Championship side are are looking all out of sorts in the early goings. Bellamy's goal was the worst possible scenario for them.
12th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: The Reds are much livelier after the goal and gaining an even greater advantage in territory and possession. Another early goal for Liverpool could put things out of reach for the hosts.
8th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: GOAL. Bellamy takes a pass from Luis Suarez and puts Liverpool ahead in his first start since re-joining the club. The second time around may be better than the first.
3rd minute, 0-0: We're underway with Brighton trying to play the role of giant killers.
2:30 p.m. ET: Here are the starting lineups.
Liverpool
Pepe Reina (25), goalkeeper
Martin Kelly (34), right back
Jamie Carragher (23), center back
Sebastian Coates (16), center back
Jack Robinson (49), left back
Lucas (21), midfielder
Maxi Rodriguez (11), midfielder
Jay Spearing (29), midfielder
Dirk Kuyt (18), midfielder
Craig Bellamy (39), forward
Luis Suarez (7), forward
Substitutes
Doni (32), goalkeeper
John Flanagan (38), defender
Danny Wilson (22), defender
(Welcome back!) Steve Gerrard (8), midfielder
Stuart Downing (19), midfielder
Jonjo Shelvey (33), midfielder
Andy Carroll (9), forward
Brighton
Casper Ankergren (16), goalkeeper
Gordon Greer(3), defender
Steve Cook (28), defender
Inigo Calderon (14), defender
Roman Vindelot (20), defender
Alan Navarro (8), midfielder
Matthew Sparrow (10), midfielder
Liam Bridcutt (26), midfielder
William Buckley (30), midfielder
Craig Noone (11), forward
Craig Mackail-Smith (12), forward
Substitutes
Peter Brezovan (1), goalkeeper
Mauricio Taricco (27), defender
Lewis Dunk (5), midfielder
Vicente (15), midfielder
Kazenga LuaLua (25), midfielder
Yasser Kasim (32), midfielder
Ashley Barnes (9), forward
12 a.m. ET: Liverpool was handed a cold, harsh dose of reality on Sunday when they lost 4-0 at Tottenham. Both the scoreline and the manner of defeat reminded everyone associated with the club just how much work there is to be done if the Reds are to hit their target of a top-four finish in the English Premier League.
Captain Steve Gerrard is expected to return from a six-month injury layoff, though it is uncertain how much he will play. New signings Craig Bellamy and Sebastian Coates should make their debuts in the starting 11.
Join us Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. ET for NESN.com's live blog of Brighton-Liverpool. The Reds look to advance to the next round in their quest for silverware.
