Liverpool vs Brighton Hove & Albion Prediction 14.02.2026 | FA Cup

Liverpool return to Anfield in high spirits after grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at surprise package Sunderland in midweek, a result that highlighted their impressive defensive discipline and left the hosts with virtually no clear opportunities.

Despite that morale-boosting win, the Reds’ hopes of defending their Premier League crown appear extremely slim. Sitting a daunting 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal, Arne Slot’s side are increasingly likely to prioritize domestic cup competitions as their primary objective this season.

Their FA Cup campaign began in emphatic fashion, as Liverpool showcased the clear gap between England’s top flight and League One opposition, dispatching Barnsley 4-1 in dominant fashion in front of their home supporters. They will now be aiming to deliver another strong display against Brighton, a side they comfortably defeated 2-0 back in December.

However, Liverpool will have to cope with several key absences ahead of Saturday’s cup clash. Giovanni Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Stefan Bajcetic, and Swedish talisman Alexander Isak are all ruled out through injury, dealing a significant blow to the squad’s depth and attacking options.

Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion travel to Merseyside in the midst of a difficult winter slump, having failed to secure a single league victory since their comfortable 2-0 triumph over Burnley in their opening match of 2026. That disappointing run now stretches to six consecutive Premier League games without a win (D3, L3), raising serious concerns over their current form.

To make matters worse, the Seagulls have ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline in each of their last two league outings without finding the net, while their recent struggles in attack — failing to score more than once in recent fixtures — only increase the pressure ahead of this demanding contest.

Despite their domestic wobbles, the South Coast outfit boast an impressive reputation for giant-killing in the FA Cup. They have won seven of their previous eight away matches in the competition, a remarkable record that could provide a significant psychological boost amid their ongoing struggles.

German tactician Fabian Hurzeler will also have to contend with several absentees, as Adam Webster, Mats Wieffer, Yasin Ayari, Solly March, and Greek centre-forward Stefanos Tzimas are all sidelined through injury.