Liverpool will aim to avoid another fourth-round exit when they face Brighton on Saturday.
Liverpool turn their focus to the FA Cup this weekend as they host Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Saturday night. The Reds progressed with a 4-1 win over Barnsley in the previous round, but a growing injury list has since dented their hopes of silverware this season.
Those setbacks have contributed to a faltering league campaign, with Liverpool sitting sixth and 15 points behind leaders Arsenal. Early elimination from the Carabao Cup leaves the FA Cup and Champions League as their remaining realistic trophy routes.
Arne Slot’s side head into the tie buoyed by a 1-0 win at Sunderland on Wednesday, though that victory came at a cost. Midfielder Wataru Endo was stretchered off after deputising at right-back, adding to their defensive concerns.
Speaking about Endo’s condition during a press conference on Friday morning, Slot said: “A foot injury. We still need to do some assessments but it’s clear and obvious that he will be out for quite a long time.”
Dominik Szoboszlai is available again after serving a one-match suspension, while Joe Gomez has returned from injury. However, both recognised right-backs remain sidelined – Jeremie Frimpong with a hamstring issue and Conor Bradley after a season-ending knee injury.
Young centre-back Giovanni Leoni is also out long-term with an ACL injury. Liverpool are additionally waiting on the return of record signing Alexander Isak, who underwent surgery on a lower-leg fracture sustained at Christmas and is targeting a comeback around March.
Brighton, meanwhile, have received a boost, with head coach Fabian Hurzeler confirming there were no new injuries from the midweek defeat to Aston Villa. Midfielder Mats Wieffer is set to return after a foot injury, strengthening the visitors ahead of the trip to Anfield.
Hurzeler said on Thursday: “There’s no new injury concerns. Mats Wieffer will be back so that’s a positive one. Mats is a big player who has a big impact on our game.
“He has a big personality as well so we definitely missed him and we are all happy that he’s back now. Jan Paul should be OK to start again. Yasin Ayari is still missing. He is doing rehab, but he’s getting closer. We expect him to be back soon.”
Brighton remain without long-term absentees Solly March, Stefanos Tzimas and Adam Webster, while Yasin Ayari is still sidelined with a shoulder issue.
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