Liverpool now know the time and date for his or her FA Cup fourth-round fixture in opposition to Brighton, and it’s brought on a little bit of consternation, to say the least.
On Friday night, the FA formally confirmed the dates and kick-off occasions for the following spherical of their flagship competitors, and the Reds will welcome Fabian Hurzeler’s aspect to Anfield on Saturday 14 February with an 8pm kick-off.
Unsurprisingly, the scheduling has been met with justified howls of derision from many supporters on-line, together with these of the house crew who can empathise with the logistical nightmare their Seagulls counterparts at the moment are going through.
Fully unfair on the travelling Brighton followers. Whoever determined this kick off time wants sacking. https://t.co/DDmuUjDVFU
— ZAGKAG (@ZAGKAG1811) January 16, 2026
Based on Google Maps, the quickest route by street from Brighton to Liverpool is a five-hour drive, and it’s not unthinkable that the match may go to additional time and penalties.
In that situation, it may very well be approaching 11pm by the point the match ends. Even when away followers make a fast getaway from Anfield, it’d be 4am Sunday morning by the point they’re again on the south coast. As for getting a late prepare again to Sussex with out an in a single day keep…good luck with that.
Followers completed soiled as soon as once more by nightmare fixture scheduling
As soon as once more, in the case of fixture scheduling, the heartbeat of the game – the match-going die-hards – are the final consideration by the authorities tasked with organising dates and kick-off occasions.
What occurred to all of the posturing from broadcasters and governing our bodies about supporters being the lifeblood of the sport throughout these darkish pandemic-era days firstly of this decade, when a soulless imitation of soccer was performed out at empty stadia all through the nation?
Liverpool followers are not any strangers to the Saturday 8pm kick-off slot – we’ve already had it twice this season (Brentford away, Aston Villa at residence) and have two extra pencilled in over the following month (Newcastle on 31 January, Brighton a fortnight later).
It isn’t simply Seagulls supporters being completed soiled by the FA Cup fourth-round schedule, both – their Chelsea and Ipswich counterparts face prolonged journeys to Hull and Wrexham respectively on a Friday evening, whereas Brentford followers will face a protracted comminute to Cheshire for his or her Monday evening conflict at Macclesfield.
Why was Saturday evening chosen for Liverpool v Brighton?
It’s inevitable in 2026 {that a} sizeable portion of video games might be chosen for dwell TV protection, and whereas Saturday and Sunday afternoon slots are probably the most perfect for match-going supporters, the latter would possibly’ve been problematic because the Reds may but have a Champions League match on Tuesday 18 February, ought to they must undergo the knockout play-off spherical.
Even at that, absolutely any person inside the FA or TNT Sports activities (who’ve the broadcasting rights for the match) may’ve been fairly anticipated to lift a crimson flag about asking Brighton followers to journey to Liverpool and again at such a late hour.
Each Seagulls supporter who makes the journey in such inconvenient circumstances deserves an unlimited quantity of credit score, and the house crowd inside Anfield that evening would readily acknowledge as a lot, particularly those that routinely journey all through the nation to assist Arne Slot’s aspect.
You’ll be able to watch Slot’s full pre-Burnley press convention under, through Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
