Liverpool XI vs. Brighton: Salah, Ekitike Decision Made—Injury News, Predicted Lineup

FA Cup success could save the stuttering season of the Premier League champions.

Mohamed Salah (left) and Hugo Ekitiké (right) could be rested. | Paul ELLIS / AFP/Getty Images

The FA Cup is Liverpool’s most likely route to silverware this season but they have an awkward fourth round tie with Brighton & Hove Albion to navigate before they can dream of a Wembley trip.

Brighton might be struggling for form this season under Fabian Hürzeler but they still possess a talented squad capable of making life difficult for Liverpool. The inconsistency of Arne Slot’s side means they can take nothing for granted at Anfield on Saturday night.

Changes are expected from the team that secured a crucial 1–0 win over Sunderland on Wednesday, although injuries restrict Slot’s rotation options for Brighton’s visit north.

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Match Snapshot

• 🕒 Kick-off time: 8 p.m. GMT, 3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT
• 📍 Location: Anfield
• 🏆 Competition: FA Cup
• 📊 Recent form: LWWLW (all competitions)

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Team News

Wataru Endo was stretchered off against Sunderland. | Alex Dodd/CameraSport/Getty Images

• ⚠️ Key absentees, doubts: Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni
• 🔢 Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1

Wataru Endo is the latest victim of Liverpool’s right back curse. Covering for the injured Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley against Sunderland, the Japan international was stretchered off the field with 20 minutes to play and is certain to miss the weekend’s game—Slot acknowledging that the injury is a “serious one.”

Frimpong and Bradley are still absent ahead of Saturday’s outing but Joe Gomez did return from injury at the Stadium of Light and should start at right back. Dominik Szoboszlai, who was suspended for the Sunderland game, is another option in the role given he’s available once more.

Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni remain long-term absentees for the Reds alongside academy stars Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajčetić.

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Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Brighton (4-2-3-1)

Liverpool have few rotation options in defence. | FotMob

GK: Giorgi Mamardashvili—Mamardashvili is an impressive deputy to Alisson but he’s kept just two clean sheets in 11 outings when covering for his Brazilian superior.

RB: Joe Gomez—A timely return from the bench midweek should solve one dilemma for Slot for Brighton’s visit, although Liverpool will want to manage the injury-prone defender’s minutes.

CB: Ibrahima Konaté—With Gomez shunted to right back and Leoni injured, Liverpool have no senior options at centre back to rotate. Konaté should start again following a terrific display at Sunderland.

CB: Virgil van Dijk—The same applies for 34-year-old Van Dijk, who would ideally be rested in such fixtures. Fortunately, the veteran is durable and once again underscored his significance by scoring the match-winner midweek.

LB: Milos Kerkez—One area of the defence in which Liverpool do have depth is left back. Andy Robertson was preferred on Wednesday, impressing on his return to the XI, but Kerkez is expected to start.

DM: Ryan Gravenberch—Much like the centre backs behind him, there will be no rest for Gravenberch. Endo’s injury means he’s now the club’s only holding midfielder and can ill-afford to be dropped.

DM: Curtis Jones—Alexis Mac Allister supplied one of his stronger performances of the season at Sunderland—which is not saying much—but Jones should feature from the off against Brighton.

RW: Dominik Szoboszlai—Liverpool tasted victory without their talisman on Wednesday and will welcome him back with open arms. There are at least four roles that Szoboszlai could take up at Anfield but he might be deployed as Mohamed Salah’s replacement on the right-hand side.

AM: Florian Wirtz—There will be a temptation to rest the increasingly influential Wirtz and Szoboszlai will be moved centrally if Slot decides to bench the German. However, given Liverpool’s creativity struggles without their new playmaker, they can’t necessarily afford to drop him.

LW: Federico Chiesa—Chiesa has taken over from Darwin Núñez as the architect of chaos at Liverpool and Slot will be hoping the Italian can unpick a struggling Brighton side with his energy.

ST: Cody Gakpo—With Isak out of action, Hugo Ekitiké has been overworked in recent weeks. For such an occasion, the Frenchman may be swapped for the out-of-form Gakpo up top.

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