Liverpool are preparing for an FA Cup tie with Brighton as Arne Slot will be looking to advance in the Reds quest for a trophy this season
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, speaks to the media during a press conference at AXA Training Centre on January 27, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Arne Slot has spoken ahead of this weekend's game with Brighton(Image: Jan Kruger, Getty Images)
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has suggested he may ring the changes for Saturday's FA Cup encounter with Brighton, with one youngster catching his eye. The Anfield side will be channelling their complete attention towards the fixture as Slot looks to leave his mark on this year's competition.
The Reds suffered an embarrassing exit 12 months ago, falling victim to a fourth-round giant-killing at the hands of Plymouth Argyle. The FA Cup, along with the Champions League, now represents the club's final opportunity to secure silverware this campaign after they stumbled in the Premier League title race and were eliminated from the League Cup.
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Speaking before the Seagulls fixture, Slot emphasised that he is "always looking at the younger players" and that a "few of them are closer and closer to first-team football". The ECHO examines the latest developments emerging from Anfield.
Slot highlights Reds star
Slot has praised the attributes of Dominik Szoboszlai. The 25-year-old Hungarian joined the Reds from RB Leipzig in July 2023 for £60 million.
Since his arrival, Szoboszlai has progressed from a reliable first-team option to Liverpool's latest talisman. The midfielder has notched up nine goals and seven assists this season, despite being utilised in a variety of positions.
Szoboszlai has also frequently filled in at right-back amidst the club's ongoing defensive injury woes. "Szoboszlai, I cannot stop talking about his qualities, close to ridiculous," Slot said in his press conference ahead of the Brighton match.
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool applauds the fans
Dominik Szoboszlai has been in good form this season(Image: Getty Images)
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"On and off the ball, work rate another level, the intensity, he presses, unbelievable technique, game insight, offensive midfielder, right-back, right-winger, all these qualities in these positions, he has been vital for us this and last season. He will continue to be that for us."
The Reds are set to welcome back Szoboszlai for the FA Cup tie after he sat out the win over Sunderland due to a red card received in the previous weekend's Premier League defeat to Manchester City.
'New Curtis Jones' on brink of breakthrough
Liverpool youngster Kieran Morrison has been making a splash at the club's academy, becoming the first Liverpool player to clinch a Premier League 2 Player of the Month award since Curtis Jones in 2020.
The 19-year-old earned the accolade after netting five goals and providing an assist in January. The award is even more prestigious given that no Liverpool player has won it since Jones claimed the honour six years ago.
Morrison has already featured in several of Slot's matchday squads this season and is anticipated to be included in the squad again for the FA Cup clash with Brighton.
Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace clashes with Kieran Morrison of Liverpool during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on October 29, 2025
Kieran Morrison has impressed in the academy this season(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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The Under 21s coach at the club, Jay Spearing, has also confirmed that Morrison has piqued Slot's interest. "For us as an academy it was an unbelievable occasion to see him get the opportunity to be involved," said Spearing.
"In the nicest way, we want them to be around the first team and then when they come back, in the nicest way, don't want to be around us. They want to get back there as quickly as they can.
"We speak to the manager most days, we're in his office quite a lot, we speak to him probably three-to-four times a week in his office planning sessions.
"So if the manager says who is playing well, if you're playing well and training well, your name is going to get put in front of him and he will want to see clips, he'll want to see video so that's what's happened to Kieran."