Arne Slot’s crew takes no prisoners, regardless of the competition! In prospect, the Reds had a challenging task against Brighton, but Cody Gakpo took care of the necessary job! The Seagulls held out before the break, but after conceding in the first minute of the second period, the defeat was on the horizon. The Dutchman doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, but the Seagulls did not give up. Adingra reduced the gap in the 81st minute before Diaz annulled it four minutes later. Still, Lamptey gave the ultimate ray of hope to the home team, but in vain – 3-2.Into the @Carabao_Cup quarter-finals 👊 #BHALIV pic.twitter.com/5jDv23sA8Y— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 30, 2024 Both Fabian Hurzeler and Arne Slot decided to mix things up in the EFL Cup and keep some key players fresh ahead of the upcoming Premier League challenges. Hence, some names with less playing time, like Igor, Jakub Moder, Brajan Gruda, and Evan Ferguson on one side, and Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Wataru Endo, and Tyler Morton on the other, were starters.Each side opted for pressing, trying to reduce the rivals’ passing space as much as possible. After 14 minutes, the Ghanaian Tariq Lamptey made the first move, only to be stopped one-on-one by the 23-year-old Czech Vitezslav Jaros in Liverpool’s goal.Bad news for Reds: Liverpool reveal for how long Jota will be sidelinedYet, the initial fire was quickly put out as the teams became more cautious. Slot was obviously not satisfied in those moments since he would often give instructions to his players and analyze things with his assistants.The Reds wasted their best first-half opportunities in the 33rd and 39th minutes. Or, better said, Jason Steele saved Brighton, stopping Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson’s attempts. The rhythm that initially guaranteed an exciting first half became slower and slower as time passed, and the teams were levelled at the break – 0-0.Still, Liverpool needed only a minute in the second period to break the deadlock! And in what way! Cody Gakpo got the ball on the left flank, moved slightly towards the box and unleashed a powerful effort, finding Steele’s top left corner for 1-0!🚨🚨| GOAL: FANTASIC FINISH BY GAKPO!!Brighton 0-1 Liverpool pic.twitter.com/uKcEg47BNC— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) October 30, 2024 The Seagulls could have responded with the equalizer only four minutes later, but Jaros terrifically stopped Simon Adingra’s header with a little help of his left post. That was only the introduction into Brighton’s fierce pressure, initiated mainly by the fast Lamptey, but neither Moder nor Gruda could find the net.The Ghanaian defender could have ruined everything good he did at an hour mark, allowing Diaz to steal the ball. The Reds had a three-on-one situation, but the Colombian, Gakpo, and Szoboszlai failed to end it with a goal. Yet, minutes later, they corrected the mistake as the Dutch forward used another Lamptey’s error and turned it into a second goal of the night for his team and himself – 2-0!⚽️GOAL🏴 | Brighton 1-2 Liverpool | Simon Adingrapic.twitter.com/CtwOgoSJxA— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) October 30, 2024 Brighton refused to give up and managed to reduce the gap in the 81st minute through the Ivorian Adingra, who was in the right place in the right time to send home Jaros’ deflection – 2-1! Hurzeler’s team had enough time to at least salvage a draw and secure the penalty shoot-out.🚨🏴⚽️ | Goal DiazBrighton 1 – 3 Liverpool pic.twitter.com/TmogSwdTBa— GoalsCentre (@Goals_Centre) October 30, 2024 🚨🚨| GOAL: LAMPTEY PULLS ONE BACK!!Brighton 2-3 Liverpool pic.twitter.com/jPdfGeS3Fk— Transfer Sector (@TransferSector) October 30, 2024 However, instead of equalizing, Brighton conceded another, after failing to get the ball out of their box and allowing Diaz to find the bottom right corner after a solo effort – 3-1! Brighton fought back four minutes later, through Lamptey, who was the home team’s most active player and deserved a goal – 3-2!Still, Liverpool won the first chapter of the duel, but the second will be up shortly – in only three days. This time at Anfield and in the Premier League. Tonight’s clash was a treat so we can only imagine what fireworks we’ll see on Saturday when both managers send their strongest lineups to the pitch.##NAJAVA_MECA_8456992##Playing time for the youngsters and bench players, a trip to the east of England, a match similar to training practice, and a quarter-finals of the EFL Cup – that’s how tonight looked for Arsenal. In a duel of the only two “invincible” teams in English top-tier history, the Gunners smoothly beat Preston 3-0. Already before the break, the Gunners left no room for surprises, taking a 2-0 lead behind Gabriel Jesus’ goal and Ethan Nwaneri’s screamer. The sub, Havertz, set the final score in the 57th minute and secured Arsenal’s place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.Into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup ✊ pic.twitter.com/Kk9UaoaTRR— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 30, 2024 Mikel Arteta sent a combination of youngsters like Tommy Setford and Ethan Nwaneri and players who needed more minutes, such as Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Raheem Sterling, and Gabriel Jesus, to the pitch to face the Championship side Preston North End.Gabriel Jesus scored his first goal for Arsenal since January pic.twitter.com/1yhQs0PTDF— George (@George_Zur) October 30, 2024 The Gunners expectedly dominated the game from the first minute, with Nwaneri missing the first decent chance. When, in the 24th minute, Arsenal got a free kick, the home fans were rightfully afraid, having in mind Nicolas Jover’s terrific set-piece actions. They did not fail this time either, as Arteta’s team broke the deadlock! Gabriel Martinelli found Jakub Kiwior inside, who dropped the ball in front of Jesus, and the Brazilian took no prisoners – 1-0!🚨🏴 GOAL | Preston 0-2 Arsenal | NwaneriWHAT A GOAL FROM NWANERI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/X2AWjFkY6E— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) October 30, 2024 Nine minutes later, the Gunners’ gem, Nwaneri, sent a thunderbolt into Preston’s net for 2-0, stunning even the Lilywhites’ custodian Frederick Woodman, who did not even move! The 17-year-old set the half-time score and sent a message to Arteta that he could count on him in the Premier League clashes, especially when the team from the Emirates Stadium needs a goal.Watching Arsenal is like watching Netflix…Kai Havertz, who entered as a sub alongside Thomas Partey, made it 3-0 in the 57th minute with a powerful header, using an ideal cross from Kiwior, who recorded his second assist of the night.⚽️GOAL🏴 | Preston 0-3 Arsenal | HavertzKai Havert makes threepic.twitter.com/iurdrVFU2L— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) October 30, 2024 Despite having a three-goal lead, Arteta subbed in even Bukayo Saka in the last half an hour. Nwaneri proved to have been the most motivated Gunners player, hitting the bar fourteen minutes before the end, while both teams seemed to have eagerly waited for the ref’s final whistle. In the penultimate minute, Havertz could have made it four, but the German lacked concentration in front of Preston’s goal.In the end, Arsenal got what they wanted – an easy triumph and the opportunity to rest and try out some players. Arteta and his lads can now turn to the Premier League title battle and the Saturday’s extremely challenging match at St James’ Park in Newcastle.EFL CUP – ROUND 4TuesdaySouthampton – Stoke 3-2 (2-1)/Harwood-Bellis 19, Armstrong 35 pen, Bree 88 – Phillips 45, Cannon 54/Brentford – Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on pen (1-1)/Schade 11 – Gassama 57/Wednesday Brighton – Liverpool 2-3 (0-0)/Adingra 81, Lamptey 90 – Gakpo 46, 63, Diaz 85/Aston Villa – Crystal Palace 1-2 (1-1)/Duran 23 – Eze 8, Kamada 64/Man.Utd. – Leicester 5-2 (4-2)/Casemiro 15, 39, Garnacho 28, Fernandes 36, 59 – El Khannouss 33, Coady 45+3/Newcastle – Chelsea 2-0 (2-0)/Isak 23, Disasi 26 og/Preston – Arsenal 0-3 (0-2)/Jesus 24, Nwaneri 33, Havertz 57/Tottenham – Man.City 2-1 IN PROGRESS
