Cody Gakpo hits brace as Liverpool hold on to beat Brighton

Cody Gakpo claimed a stunning second-half double as holders Liverpool progressed to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with an absorbing 3-2 win against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

The Netherlands international, who scored twice in the Reds' 5-1 third-round success over West Ham, took his career tally in the competition to eight goals in as many games with a pair of powerful finishes.

Simon Adingra poked home on the rebound 10 minutes from time to halve the deficit before Luis Diaz quickly restored the two-goal cushion for Arne Slot’s side, prior to Tariq Lamptey’s deflected consolation.

Liverpool handed a full debut to former St Patrick's Athletic loanee Vitezslav Jaros, as Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher was rested, having deputised for number one Alisson Becker in recent weeks.

Evan Ferguson played the full match for Brighton, after ending his goal drought in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Wolves.

Jaros produced a fine save to turn an Adingra header against a post at 1-0, while Lamptey and Ferguson also wasted good openings for Albion.

Following a forgettable first half, the Seagulls were the dominant force in the 17 minutes between Gakpo’s goals but were ruthlessly punished as their quest to reach the last eight of the tournament for the first time in 46 years fell short.

Andy Robertson captained the Reds after being one of only three players retained from the team which started Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal, while Brighton also made eight changes.

Seagulls goalkeeper Jason Steele, who skippered the hosts, survived some nervy moments early on before Lamptey squandered a golden chance for a 13th-minute opener.

After Jan Paul van Hecke’s searching pass picked out Adingra, marauding right-back Lamptey was slipped in on