Advertisement
Fabinho (centre) is shown a yellow card after a challenge on Evan Ferguson. Alastair Grant

Evan Ferguson left on crutches following horror tackle from Fabinho

The Ireland international was forced off in the latte stages of Brighton’s 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round win over Liverpool.

LAST UPDATE | 29 Jan 2023

LIVERPOOL SUFFERED ANOTHER horror show on England’s south coast as Kaoru Mitoma’s stunning stoppage-time goal saw the holders dumped out of the FA Cup 2-1 at Brighton.

But the Seagulls’ win was marred by the sight of Evan Ferguson requiring help to leave the pitch after a dreadful tackle from behind by Fabinho forced the Ireland international off for the final stages.

The 18-year-old has come to the fore at club level and is also now viewed as a serious contender to start for his country when Stephen Kenny’s side begin their Euro 2024 qualification against France on 27 March.

The extent of the injury could now determine whether that is a possibility, with the Brazil international only shown a yellow card for the brutal challenge which resulted in Ferguson leaving the stadium on crutches.

“We are sorry for him (Ferguson),” the Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi told beIN Sports. “The injury, we don’t know yet, but we will see in the next days and we hope for him and for the club that it will not be so important an injury.

“I think Fabinho is a quality player. It can happen on the pitch, these accidents.”

For Liverpool, back at the scene of the 3-0 thumping a fortnight ago which Jurgen Klopp described as the worst of his managerial career, looked destined for at least a replay after Lewis Dunk’s lucky strike cancelled out Harvey Elliott’s opener.

But Japan star Mitoma produced a fabulous piece of improvisation to control the ball and then volley a dramatic winner to leave Klopp wincing again.

Brighton, as expected, were without wantaway midfielder Moises Caicedo, who went public with his desire to leave after Arsenal had a £60million 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.

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-and-hove-albion-v-liverpool-emirates-fa-cup-fourth-round-amex-stadium Kaoru Mitoma celebrates with his team-mates after scoring their side's winner. PA PA

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

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.

Close
36 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tricksy
    Favourite Tricksy
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:10 PM

    Brighton deserved the win , how Fabinho stayed on the pitch after the foul on young Ferguson is mind boggling . And Conate was on a yellow and fouled a Brighton player with a push on the back , he should have seen red too . TAA got a bashing all day long by the Japanese lad , the lad is just not able to defend .

    523
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Higgins
    Favourite Sean Higgins
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 9:26 PM

    @Tricksy: if only Celtic would look to Japan and Korea for quality players ;)

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Walsh
    Favourite Niall Walsh
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:11 PM

    Terrible challenge from Fabinho. Should have been red. And he knew it himself. Hope Ferguson’s ok

    466
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Delaney
    Favourite John Delaney
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:15 PM

    Serious questions to be asked of VAR after that debacle .Disgraceful Fabinho stayed on the pitch he was expecting to see red. Robertson could easily have went too…as could have Konate. None could have any complaints

    364
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Murray
    Favourite Michael Murray
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 7:19 PM

    @John Delaney: ….on those 2 tackles late on….if that’s sport, we’re fkdd!!

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidy McBride
    Favourite Aidy McBride
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:35 PM

    Another big L for the best team ever to do it lol

    220
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam P Dunne
    Favourite Liam P Dunne
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 5:15 PM

    @Aidy McBride: the greatest team in league history to ever win 1 league in 33 years. Get your facts right please.

    189
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Jennings
    Favourite Paul Jennings
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 5:31 PM

    @Aidy McBride: good man aidy another comment from the man no one takes seriously

    118
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Clare
    Favourite John Clare
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 5:35 PM

    @Aidy McBride: Yes, Liverpool are the most successful English team ever. You are correct to mention this : )

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidy McBride
    Favourite Aidy McBride
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 6:45 PM

    @Paul Jennings: but you took the time to rage, be offended and then counter my comment. So predictable lol

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidy McBride
    Favourite Aidy McBride
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 7:04 PM

    @Liam P Dunne: go easy on them Liam, they are a temperamental bunch

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denis Ryan
    Favourite Denis Ryan
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 8:05 PM

    @Liam P Dunne: or 5 titles in 40 years or 11 in fifty years. United won their 7th title in 1967 and Liverpool won their 7th in 1966. So in all that time ye have won 1 title more than us. Liverpools last league 2020, united last league title 2013. 10 years tick tock.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Jennings
    Favourite Paul Jennings
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 9:00 PM

    @Aidy McBride:

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute UK Hurling Bloke
    Favourite UK Hurling Bloke
    Report
    Jan 30th 2023, 7:39 AM

    @Denis Ryan: Us vs Them – schoolboy pïssing contest bs…Zzzz..

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finn Faulkner
    Favourite Finn Faulkner
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:14 PM

    A terrible season by our standards. No invention, and we are devolving. Signings are important, but Klopp doesn’t have an answer. Quite worrying.
    Brighton were good for it. Mitoma is very dangerous, he’ll surely get picked up by a bigger club.

    132
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Smith
    Favourite John Smith
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:56 PM

    @Finn Faulkner: Becoming the norm. We are way off it. Klopp era looks doomed.

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Donohue
    Favourite Noel Donohue
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 5:07 PM

    Liverpool are still in contention for the relegation places so not is all lost ha ha.

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Moran
    Favourite Declan Moran
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 6:39 PM

    Horrific tackle. He should have seen red for it. There should be retrospective action allowed in cases like that. Wish Evan a speedy recovery

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid Dorney
    Favourite Diarmuid Dorney
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 7:28 PM

    @Declan Moran: agree it was a horrific tackle Declan and should have been red. I think as the ref dealt with the incident by issuing a yellow card. Can it be upgraded to red?

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael McGrath
    Favourite Michael McGrath
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:39 PM

    It was no coincidence that we had two clean sheets for the last two games without Trent playing, he just is not a defender and it’s a major flaw on Klopps behalf that he keeps insisting on playing him at full back. The chickens have come home to roost with our aging midfield and no investment from FSG in this department that been crying out for it for a couple of seasons even now with our struggles we went and bought Gakpo, fine but he wasn’t an urgent signing and ignored our obvious deficiencies

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean
    Favourite Sean
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:54 PM

    @Michael McGrath: yes Trent is a great crosser and all that yada yada but has a lot of glaring deficiencies in his defensive game.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Eales
    Favourite Simon Eales
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 5:59 PM

    Half the male population of Ireland crying into their pints tonight

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nollaig Kelly
    Favourite Nollaig Kelly
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 5:16 PM

    Fabiano; he’s not that type of player….

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Power
    Favourite Ger Power
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 7:47 PM

    Brighton should write to the FA to see if they can play Liverpool every week and Mitoma probably dreams of playing againt TAA every week

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JustBEERbarry
    Favourite JustBEERbarry
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 4:47 PM

    Allez allez allez

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emmet Heneghan
    Favourite Emmet Heneghan
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 5:46 PM

    They Should really try playing 3-5-2. Give Trent less defensive responsibility.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Mullins
    Favourite Michael Mullins
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 6:08 PM

    @Emmet Heneghan: agreed. I wonder is Klopp reluctant to do that because if another CB gets injured there’s not a lot left. Williams just had his loan cancelled I think? Either way, a change in shape is badly needed

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jimmy fitz
    Favourite jimmy fitz
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 8:01 PM

    @Emmet Heneghan: just shouldn’t play trent

    14
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael McGrath
    Favourite Michael McGrath
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 9:01 PM

    @Michael Mullins: Been saying it for ages we have more cover at centre half than we do at full back though. Don’t know why we are selling Phillips he’s a far better and braver defender than Gomez

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Foster
    Favourite Stephen Foster
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 7:17 PM

    Fecking hell Liverpool are shockin’ at the moment. Defo nothing more than a mid-table club this year.

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin McCarthy
    Favourite Eoin McCarthy
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 8:08 PM

    I really hate football at the moment. Liverpool are just awful. It’s obvious that the last 4 seasons have taken their toll. So many players have lost form at the same time. The same 11-18 players have had to be on it for every single game since 2018 in order to be anywhere near City. The rebuild could take a while, unfortunately. Unless some serious petro-dollars suddenly get invested in to the club, as much as it pains me to think about it.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoghan Ryan
    Favourite Eoghan Ryan
    Report
    Jan 29th 2023, 10:37 PM

    @Eoin McCarthy: so you hate football cos “your team” aren’t winning anymore? What exactly would you like for your 6th birthday lad

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin McCarthy
    Favourite Eoin McCarthy
    Report
    Jan 30th 2023, 7:27 AM

    @Eoghan Ryan: Ever heard of tongue in cheek……lad? I’ll take a Lego set though, if you’re buying.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Spud Geshletter
    Favourite Spud Geshletter
    Report
    Jan 30th 2023, 7:27 AM

    Should be arrested and charged with assault never mind the cards.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Hunter
    Favourite Liam Hunter
    Report
    Jan 30th 2023, 12:12 PM

    This is reminding me of period before Rodgers getting boot…very worrying.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Frazier
    Favourite Robert Frazier
    Report
    Jan 30th 2023, 11:01 AM

    Quadrapool ? Where did it all go wrong

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel