Liverpool v Brighton: 5 Things We Learned About the Reds

Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, take notice: This is how a big Premier League club deals with a tricky FA Cup tie.

And the rest of English football, pay heed: This is a team that's steamrolling towards Wembley, times two.

Liverpool dismantled Brighton 6-1 on Sunday, advancing to the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time since the 2006 cup-winning season. Martin Skrtel, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez scored as the hosts put a difficult stretch behind them, and Brighton heaped more misery on themselves with three own goals.

An FA Cup quarterfinal date at Stoke City awaits, but not before Liverpool head to Wembley for the Carling Cup final next weekend. On Sunday's evidence, the Reds might be the favorites for both trophies.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeCummings37

Playing for Trophies

It's no secret that the current season has been rough for Liverpool.

Much of the heartache has surrounded Luis Suarez, who this season alone has drawn an eight-match ban, flipped off Fulham fans and angered an entire country by refusing to shake Patrice Evra's hand. His team, meanwhile, has struggled in the league, limping to seventh place heading into the weekend.

And yet, behold now the Reds, the favorites in next weekend's Carling Cup final and perhaps—could it really be?—the team to beat in the FA Cup. With Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal out of the competition, Liverpool must be considered among the likeliest candidates to lift that trophy as well.

Football, as we all know, works in mysterious ways. As the latest evidence in a long line of unlikely occurrences, consider this: At this point, wouldn't any Arsenal fan trade their team's fourth-place status and possible Champions League qualification for even one of Liverpool's two remaining chances at silverware?

That question raises others, of course. Mainly: Has Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish always cast his eye somewhat past the league and onto the Reds' chances for silverware? Or has it only become so lately?

We'll probably never know, but this much is true: For all of this season's heartaches—and they have been numerous—Liverpool are a mere four wins away from two trophies.

Formula for Success

As for football working in mysterious ways, consider yet another piece of nearly unbelievable information: Before Sunday's match, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll had not started a match together for Liverpool.

Unlikely as that sounds, it also goes some way to explaining some of the problems Liverpool have endured this season. With those three men on the pitch, together, from the first whistle for the first time, Liverpool ran riot on Brighton.

Admittedly, they did so against a Championship team, a team that appeared on the verge of defensive meltdown every time the ball crossed the halfway line. Regardless, Liverpool were excellent, with the Big Three of Gerrard, Suarez and Carroll each contributing to the offensive outburst.

With those three together, Liverpool are a different team.

Exactly how different? We'll find out as the Reds continue their two-pronged quest for silverware.

Downing but Not Out

Like his new club, Stewart Downing has struggled this season. Purchased from Aston Villa for a reported £20 million last summer, Downing still hasn't scored for Liverpool in the league.

On Sunday, though, he was brilliant on the left wing. The England international tested Brighton keeper Peter Brezovan with a deflected high shot early and supplied dangerous crosses into the box throughout the 90 minutes.

His final pass to Carroll in the 57th minute was perfect, and Carroll supplied an equally skillful finish. For both, it was a just reward for an outstanding day of work—as well as resume-booster for next weekend's cup final.

If Downing gives Liverpool that kind of width again next Sunday, it's hard to see the Reds going home empty-handed.

Defensive Concentration

The scoreline will hide it, but Liverpool were guilty of a collective lapse in concentration in the 17th minute. The lapse led to Brighton's only goal, Kazenga LuaLua's laser-guided strike from a seemingly innocuous free kick about 25 yards out on Liverpool's right side.

Liverpool's wall crumbled, and Pepe Reina was beaten at his near post. Suddenly Brighton were level after Liverpool's dominant opening spell, and Liverpool were suddenly in danger of becoming the latest victim in the FA Cup's February Frenzy.

It didn't happen, of course. But if not for some comically bad Brighton defending—three own goals, and two by the same player, must be some kind of record—everything could have been so different.

The Result Didn't Flatter Liverpool

Liverpool were every bit worthy of the result, even if the scoreline itself might have—slightly—flattered the hosts. Instead, it would be more precise to say the result was tough on Brighton, who played good football at times but fell victim to consistently shocking defending.

No matter, though. Liverpool played perhaps their best match of the year, at perhaps the best time. Heading into next weekend's cup final, it's a good time to be a Red.