The China Mail - Brighton dump Liverpool out of FA Cup, Wrexham denied Hollywood ending

Kaoru Mitoma's brilliant control and finish in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win was another enormous blow to Liverpool, whose season is fast unravelling just months after they came close to winning a historic quadruple.

The Reds had led at the Amex through Harvey Elliott, but have now won just once in their past six games in all competitions.

Lewis Dunk levelled before the break for the home side and they were well worth their place in the fifth round courtesy of a moment of magic from Mitoma.

The Japanese winger cushioned Pervis Estupinan's cross into his path, flicked the ball over Joe Gomez and fired high past Alisson Becker in the 92nd minute.

"He is an incredible player who I think can play one step higher," said Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. "I am pleased for his goal."

Liverpool are languishing in ninth in the Premier League, 21 points behind pacesetters Arsenal.

An FA Cup exit leaves the Champions League as their only remaining shot at a trophy this season.

Jurgen Klopp described Brighton's 3-0 win when the sides met earlier this month as a "horror show".

And the German coach at least took some heart from his time's battling performance on Sunday.

"I am not over the moon about this performance but, again, the only thing that happened really is that we lost against a good side, who we lost to two weeks ago in a horrendous game," said Klopp "Today was much better.

"We are obviously in a situation where we constantly want to make the final step. That's why it feels now especially bad in this moment because it didn't happen."

The hosts were without Moises Caicedo after the Ecuadoran took to social media on Friday to try and force through a move to Arsenal.

Brighton have already lost Leandro Trossard, who scored a hat-trick against Liverpool earlier in the season, to the Gunners this month.

But those absences did not show as Liverpool were left riding their luck for most of the second period.

Ibrahima Konate and Fabinho were extremely fortunate to escape red cards for challenges on Alexis Mac Allister and Evan Ferguson.

Alisson threw himself in front of Solly March to make a brilliant save from Mitoma's inventive cross and Konate did likewise to block from Ferguson.

But Brighton's pressure finally got its reward when Mitoma struck his fourth goal in six games.

- Wrexham heartbreak -

Wrexham are the last non-league club left in the competition but were left disappointed as John Egan made it 3-3 in the dying seconds for the 10-man Blades.

The hosts could not have got off to a worse start as Oli McBurnie headed Sheffield United in front after 61 seconds.

Paul Heckingbottom's side look set for a return to the Premier League next season, but they were rocked by a pulsating atmosphere inside the Racecourse Ground.

James Jones and Thomas O'Connor struck within 11 minutes early in the second half to turn the tie around.

Oli Norwood quickly levelled, but the momentum swung Wrexham's way once more when Daniel Jebbison was sent off 20 minutes from time.

Paul Mullin looked to have pulled off the shock of the round with a calm finish four minutes from time, only for Egan to break Wrexham hearts by turning home a corner at the death.

Mullin said he was "very disappointed" to concede so late.

"I'm so proud of everyone," he said. "We've worked so hard to get here. We came into the game thinking we could win and we had a game plan. Unfortunately it hasn't quite paid off but I think when the dust settles tomorrow we'll be proud of it."

Stoke progressed to the last 16 with a 3-1 win over Stevenage.

There were no shocks in Saturday's action, with all the Premier League sides progressing to the fifth round with the exception of Fulham, who were held 1-1 by Championship side Sunderland.

Manchester City beat Arsenal 1-0 on Friday to progress, with Derby due to take on struggling West Ham on Monday.

E.Lau--ThChM