Three OGs as Reds hit six

Skrtel scored the opener for the hosts after just five minutes only for Kazenga LuaLua to level the game.

A Liam Bridcutt OG restored Liverpool's lead before Carroll struck his sixth goal of the season to set up a last eight home encounter with Stoke City.

But the scoring wasn't over as Bridcutt fired at the wrong end for the second time and teammate Lewis Dunk joined in with a calamitous effort in front of the Kop.

Suarez then capped a superb individual display with a headed goal late in the game.

With FA Cup defeats to the likes of Reading and Barnsley in recent years, Liverpool could take nothing for granted against a Championship outfit unbeaten so far in 2012.

As promised in the days prior to this match, Kenny Dalglish fielded a strong 11 with Steven Gerrard, Carroll and Suarez starting a game together for the first time.

It took just four minutes for Liverpool to slice open the Brighton rearguard when Jose Enrique accepted an invitation to cut inside from the left. The Spaniard found Stewart Downing, who turned his man and powered a shot that was deflected over for a corner.

Gerrard took the kick and there with the opener was Skrtel, timing a run to the near post ready to head his third goal of the campaign.

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Gerrard almost added a second before the quarter-hour mark, whipping into the hoardings from the edge of the D after a quickly taken free-kick had exposed Brighton's lack of concentration.

But Anfield was in for a shock. It was the visitors who struck next, LuaLua avoiding the extended arms of Pepe Reina on 17 minutes with a dead-ball blast 25 yards from goal. Six thousand Brighton fans sprang from their seats in the Anfield Road End, sniffing the scent of a potential Cup upset.

Suarez and Downing combined to nearly conjure an instant reply but the latter's delicate prod past goalkeeper Peter Brezovan was cleared before it reached the goalline.

Suarez then created a trio of chances for himself: a jig through the box, a whack from distance and, finally, a sublime hit with the outside of his right foot that was cleared off the line by Inigo Calderon.

Enrique and Charlie Adam also came close as Liverpool tried to sour the atmosphere that was growing fervent in the away section.

Carroll was up next, heading onto the roof of the net after being located by Gerrard.

One team in it? Not quite, but Liverpool looked sure to re-take the lead sooner rather than later.

But beware LuaLua. The No.25 almost did it again when he flew past Glen Johnson and managed to get a shot away - albeit into the side netting.

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The expected Liverpool goal came seconds before half-time when Johnson sent a header goalbound only to see it cleared off the line. Sadly for Bridcutt, the ball then ricocheted off his shins and into the net.

Liverpool surged again as the game restarted after the break, a Gerrard smack being deflected narrowly wide by Jordan Henderson.

Next, Brezovan palmed away a Downing shot but the winger was destined to be provider, not goalscorer.

There were 57 minutes on the clock when he broke down the left and teed up Carroll with a low cross. The finish - an eight-yard lash on the turn - was superb.

Having already found his own net once, Bridcutt got his name on the scoresheet again by diverting an angled shot from Gerrard into the Kop net. Stadium announcer George Sephton generously gave the goal to Gerrard, but TV replays provided evidence to the contrary.

As if trying to spare his teammate's blushes slightly, Dunk then embarked on some keepy-uppy defending which went badly wrong and left the score at 5-1.

Brezovan prevented a sixth goal when he saved a Suarez penalty which had been awarded following a foul on substitute Dirk Kuyt.

But the excellent Suarez would not be denied, nodding home with ease late in the game following a Carroll header back across goal.

* After the game the club awarded the second own-goal to Steven Gerrard

Liverpoolfc.tv journalists' man of the match: Luis Suarez.