Liverpool Cruise Into FA Cup Fifth Round as Big Names Progress and Upsets Unfold

London, Feb 2026 : Liverpool booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a commanding 3–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield, delivering a confident performance that underlined their depth and attacking quality.

The breakthrough came just before halftime when Curtis Jones found the net in the 42nd minute, giving the hosts a deserved lead after a spell of sustained pressure. Brighton attempted to respond with spells of possession, but Liverpool’s control in midfield and defensive solidity kept the visitors at bay. The second half saw the Reds raise the tempo, sealing the contest with a powerful strike from Dominik Szoboszlai before Mohamed Salah calmly converted from the penalty spot to confirm Liverpool’s passage into Monday night’s fifth-round draw.

Earlier in the day, Manchester City also advanced with a professional 2–0 home win over League Two side Salford City. Pep Guardiola’s side took an early lead in the sixth minute when a cross from Rayan Ait-Nouri deflected off defender Alfie Dorrington and into the net. City dominated possession throughout but had to wait until the 81st minute for the decisive second goal, with Marc Guehi tapping in from close range to make the result safe.

One of the standout ties of the round saw Newcastle United mount an impressive second-half comeback to defeat Aston Villa 3–1 away from home. Villa had started brightly, taking the lead through Tammy Abraham, who scored his first goal since returning to the club in January. However, the match turned dramatically just before halftime when goalkeeper Marco Bizot was sent off for handling the ball outside his penalty area, leaving the hosts with ten men.

Newcastle capitalised after the break as Sandro Tonali struck twice to swing the momentum firmly in the visitors’ favour. Substitute Nick Woltemade added a third late on to complete a memorable turnaround.

The magic of the FA Cup was evident elsewhere as Premier League strugglers Burnley** suffered a shock home defeat to League One outfit Mansfield Town**. After Josh Laurent gave Burnley the lead, Mansfield responded with second-half goals from Rhys Oates and Lewis Reed to claim a famous scalp.

Meanwhile, League One side Burton Albion pushed West Ham United to extra time, before Crysencio Summerville struck a dramatic 95th-minute winner. West Ham finished the match with ten men after Freddie Potts was sent off.

In other ties, Norwich City defeated West Bromwich Albion 3–1, while a 109th-minute header from James Bree sent Southampton past Leicester City 2–1 in an all-Premier League reunion clash.