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By Riath Al-samarrai Published: 08: 34 AEDT, 31 October 2024 | Updated: 10: 51 AEDT, 31 October 2024 29 View comments Whatever disparaging words are said about the Carabao Cup, Cody Gakpo is not listening. To Liverpool, that will be a source of some relief after a challenging evening in Brighton. His two goals here, added to the pair he collected in the previous round, were converted with such quality and force they might just persuade Arne Slot to spare more playing time in the formats of greater consequence. With only two Premier League starts to his name this season, that would no doubt be welcomed by Gakpo as a suitable reward for extending Liverpool’s defence of the League Cup to the quarter-final stage. For a time that progression appeared to be in doubt on the south coast, first in a ropey, goalless first half, and then after Gakpo’s strikes had made it 2-0. What should have been a canter for home ahead of Saturday’s rematch in the league instead became a chaotic final 10 minutes when Simon Adingra pulled one back. Luis Diaz restored the cushion, but back came Brighton once again, this time with Tariq Lamptey assisted by a sizeable deflection off Jarell Quansah. Cody Gakpo is doing more heavy lifting than most in Liverpool’s mission to defend this trophy Arne Slot's side are making headway in their bid to defend their crown and join Brentford and Southampton in the last-eight Luis Diaz (left) scored the visitors' third and spared Liverpool's blushes on a night that could have had more serious recriminations With some sharper finishing from Brighton, it could have taken an awkward turn, though ultimately Slot was able to reflect on a successful venture for his fringe elements, including a full debut for his third-choice goalkeeper, Vitezslav Jaros. His blocks from a Lamptey one-on-one in the first half and an Adingra header at 1-0 were excellent sublime. On Gakpo, Slot said: ‘Cody has been a good player for Liverpool for a long time now. He continues to be that and that is a good thing. For me he is a regular starter. He is in tough competition with Luis Diaz but that is normal at a club like Liverpool, two quality players in each position. ’ He added: ‘For the long term I liked what I saw from players that haven't played much this season. That makes it harder for me to make lineups in the coming weeks. ’ Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, who also made eight changes to his side, said: ‘It is disappointing to go out of this game and be out of the cup. But we were not ruthless enough. ’ Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group