Brighton to host Liverpool or Wolves in FA Cup

Believe it or not, but Brighton have finally been given a home draw in the FA Cup with either Liverpool or Wolves to visit the Amex.

The last time the Albion played a tie in the world’s greatest cup competition at the Amex was in 2020. Graham Potter sent out a below-strength side and they delivered a below-par performance, being eliminated by the world’s biggest club Sheffield Wednesday.

Brighton have a rich history against Liverpool in the FA Cup. The Reds were the dominant team in European football during the early 1980s but that did not impress Brighton, who eliminated Liverpool from the competition at Anfield on their way to the 1983 final.

The Seagulls then repeated the trick a year later despite having been relegated to the old Division Two, winning 2-0 at the Goldstone to spring two shocks in as many years.

1991 saw the sides paired together again, Brighton bringing Liverpool back to the Goldstone Ground for a replay following a 2-2 draw at Anfield.

That was the afternoon that Johnny Crumplin Football Genius was born as the Albion left back successfully shackled John Barnes.

Less successful was Brighton’s experience on Merseyside in 2012. The Albion managed to score four times at Anfield; unfortunately, three of them were own goals in a humbling 6-1 defeat. It could have been even worse had Sexy Pete Brezovan not saved a Luis Suarez penalty.

As for Wolves, Brighton have played the Old Gold just once in the FA Cup. The game took place at the Goldstone in 1979, Mark Lawrenson and Gerry Ryan goals not enough as Wolves ran out 3-2 winners.

Brighton booked their place in the fourth round of this season’s competition by hammering Middlesbrough 5-1 at the Riverside Stadium.

Roberto De Zerbi set out his stall to take the competition seriously by naming an extremely strong side. Boro had no answer as goals from Pascal Gross, Adam Lallana, Deniz Undav and an Alexis Mac Allister brace dismantled the Championship promotion hopefuls.

Although not ideal being paired with a fellow Premier League side, Brighton should fear no-one at this moment in time.

De Zerbi has them playing exciting football and they are scoring goals for fun. As Glenn Murray said in his role as a BBC pundit on Saturday, the Albion have proven time and time again that they can beat anyone in the Premier League on their day.

Who Brighton will face will be decided in a replay at Molineux after Liverpool and Wolves drew 2-2 at Anfield in a game full of controversy.

The Old Gold had what appeared a perfectly good goal ruled out by an offside flag. VAR could not check the decision because there was no camera angle available or some other such bollocks.

To make matters worse, Mo Salah appeared to be offside when scoring the hosts’ second of the game. Wolves could make a strong case that they deserved to win 3-1, rather than requiring another 90 minutes against Liverpool.

Neutrals of course were bloody delighted that the Reds will have to face Wolves again coming a few days after Jurgen Klopp had a midlife crisis in a press conference about FA Cup replays.

The FA Cup fourth round tie between Brighton and either Liverpool or Wolves will take place over the weekend of Friday 27th January to Sunday 29th January.

Seeing as the broadcasters inexplicably prefer showing all-Premier League matches rather than giving lower league clubs like Chesterfield or Wrexham their day in the sun, it seems likely Brighton against Liverpool or Wolves will be selected for coverage.

In which case, we can probably all look forward to an 8pm Saturday night game at the Amex.