The sorry part for Liverpool is that it no longer feels like a surprise.
Jurgen Klopp lost his grip on another trophy and their season is descending into disappointing failure by Liverpool’s high standards.
Kaoru Mitoma scored a 92nd minute winner to knock out the FA Cup holders and the truth is that Brighton fully deserved their place in the fifth round. Liverpool won the domestic cup double last season but are now ten points off the top four, they have long since surrendered the Carabao Cup and are now out of the FA Cup.
They are still in the Champions League but face Real Madrid in the last 16 and, on this evidence, that looks a huge task because they have lost direction and identity this season. Liverpool were lucky not to finish the game with nine men as Fabinho should have been sent off for brutally scything down Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.
Ibrahima Konate was also fortunate not to get a second yellow for a clear foul when Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister was bearing down on goal. That just about summed up Liverpool’s performance because it was a very even and entertaining cup tie but they lost their heads in the last 20 minutes.
Brighton seized their chance and they are going from strength to strength under Roberto De Zerbi as they are up to sixth in the table and now into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk was sensational, producing a brilliant man of the match display as he was credited with the first goal and led by example in defence.
Brighton are living the dream because the stadium is sold out every week, the atmosphere is rocking and they are playing super football while their recruitment feels like a revolving door of talent. Japan winger Mitoma cost a measly £2.5m in August 2021, enjoyed a super World Cup and looks as if he has grown in stature ever since. His finish for the winner was just sublime.
In credit to Liverpool, they were so much better than when they lost 3-0 at Brighton in the Premier League a fortnight ago when even Klopp admitted it was one of his worst days as manager. But they are such a far cry from the days when they were winning trophies with a settled starting XI whereas now they look a mishmash of players, although injuries is playing a part in that.
However, they took the lead after 30 minutes when Naby Keita played the ball down the line, Mo Salah played in Harvey Elliott and his shot went past Brighton No2 keeper Jason Steele.
Brighton’s unfamiliar defence looked vulnerable but were always dangerous going forward and levelled after 39 minutes. Liverpool were under pressure, Mac Allister put the ball back into the box, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s half clearance only reached Tariq Lamptey.
Lamptey drilled a low shot, Dunk diverted the ball past Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker and it was level. Solly March went close as the game wore on.
Konate - who had already been booked for a foul - was lucky to escape punishment for smashing MacAllister in the back of the head when the Brighton midfielder was going through and the Liverpool defender was last man.
Liverpool rang the changes with little impact. Substitute Fabinho made things with worse with an X-rated challenge on Ferguson and even the Liverpool midfielder looked devastated by what he had done.
Finally Brighton got their reward when Pascal Gross’s free kick found Pervis Estupinan, his cross reached Mitoma who controlled the ball brilliantly before firing into the net which started the celebrations.
