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Evan Ferguson injured as Brighton dump Liverpool out of FA Cup

Evan Ferguson departs the pitch after sustaining the injury
Evan Ferguson departs the pitch after sustaining the injury

Republic of Ireland youngster Evan Ferguson went off with an injury late in the game as Brighton knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup thanks to Kaoru Mitoma's excellent late winner.

Former Bohemians striker Ferguson, who has scored three Premier League goals this season, sustained the knock after a tackle from behind by Liverpool midfielder Fabinho in the 86th minute of the 2-1 victory at the Amex Stadium, before the 18-year-old limped off with the help of the Seagulls' medics.

Fabinho was subsequently booked for the challenge.

It was the one sour note for a Brighton side who advance to the fifth round of the competition after victory against a Liverpool side that they had already beaten 3-0 in the Premier League two weeks previously - a result which Jurgen Klopp had described as the worst of his managerial career.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

Brighton, as expected, were without wantaway midfielder Moises Caicedo, who went public with his desire to leave after Arsenal had a £60 million (€68.3m) bid turned down.

They shrugged off his absence in style, although there was certainly a Caicedo-shaped hole in Brighton's midfield as Liverpool carved through it early on.

Naby Keita sent Mohamed Salah racing clear down the right and after his initial shot was saved by goalkeeper Jason Steele, Adam Webster cleared the rebound off the line.

Ten minutes later Brighton also had an effort blocked on the line when Solly March's low cross was met by Ferguson six yards out, with Trent Alexander-Arnold on hand to clear from under the crossbar.

Harvey Elliott had put the visitors in front

Then Salah was put through again, this time by Elliott's cute pass, but he dragged his shot across goal and wide.

However, the roles were reversed to greater effect moments later when Salah played in Elliott, who swept the ball past Steele and into the net.

Brighton equalised in the 39th minute when Tariq Lamptey's fierce drive was diverted past the wrong-footed Alisson by the boot of Lewis Dunk.

Fabinho fouls Evan Ferguson in the latter stages of the game

The Seagulls captain wheeled away in celebration as if he had known exactly what he was doing, but his sheepish grin told a different story.

Dunk's next piece of skill was deliberate, though, an audacious Cristiano Ronaldo-style free-kick which floated just wide with Alisson scampering back nervously.

Brighton were desperately unlucky not to go ahead with 20 minutes remaining after Mitoma bent in an inviting low cross with the outside of his right boot.

In-form Mitoma showed composure before firing in the winner

It was met in front of goal by March, whose prod forward hit Alisson, rebounded back off the winger and spun narrowly wide.

Instead, two minutes into stoppage time, Mitoma struck at the far post, bamboozling Joe Gomez as he controlled Pervis Estupinan's cross before rifling in the winner.

Additional reporting: PA

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