Skrtel's Brighton warning
Martin Skrtel has called for focus ahead of today's FA Cup clash with Brighton as Liverpool continue their quest to reach a second cup final this season.
With a trip to Wembley just around the corner in the Carling Cup, the Slovakian international urged his teammates to seize the opportunity against Gus Poyet's men and secure themselves a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Brighton, who are currently three places outside the play-off spots in the Championship, have already claimed a Premier League scalp in this years' competition in Newcastle - and Skrtel knows they have the quality to test Kenny Dalglish's charges when the two sides meet at Anfield.
"I think every game is different," Skrtel told LFC Magazine. "This time we are at Anfield. They are in the Championship but they have a lot of quality. When you play against teams from other divisions they usually work very hard and make things difficult.
"We have to make sure we are properly focused because it's a game we need to win. The FA Cup is another opportunity to win a trophy. We're in the last 16 now and have a chance to go through to the quarter-finals.
"We have to do everything to take it. This is the furthest I've been in the FA Cup so far and I want to go further."
A win against Brighton would leave Liverpool just one game away from a return to Wembley for an FA Cup semi final in mid-April. Their hunt for silverware continues on two fronts thanks to a memorable week of football in late January.
Three days after Liverpool matched City at Anfield to book a trip to Wembley, they sent Manchester United crashing out of the FA Cup courtesy of a last-gasp Dirk Kuyt winner.
Skrtel admits that such a satisfying week must rank up there with his finest in a red shirt.
He said: "It was one of the best. In 2009 we beat Real Madrid 4-0 and then beat Manchester United 4-1. That was a good week too. To knock City and then United was obviously good, but those games are gone now. We have other games coming up that we need to win.
"I was at the other end of the field, but I could see (Kuyt's goal against United). It was a great goal. There was also good work by Andy for it. He won the header and it was a good finish by Dirk.
"To win the game so late was pleasing. Maybe we didn't play that well, they probably moved the ball better than us. But we won and that's the most important thing."