Brighton team news ahead of the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Liverpool at Anfield.
Brighton & Hove Albion have suffered a major injury issue ahead of their trip to Liverpool in the FA Cup.
The Reds welcome the Seagulls to Anfield in the fourth round of the competition on Saturday (20.00 GMT). The FA Cup is one of two trophies that Arne Slot’s side can win this season, with their Premier League title defence faltering while they exited the Carabao Cup in the fourth round.
Claiming silverware is something that Liverpool expect to do every season but they have been handed a tricky tie against a Premier League rival. However, Brighton head to Merseyside in desire form, winning just once in their past 13 Premier League games.
They suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa on Wednesday and pressure is beginning to build on head coach Fabian Hurzeler. To add to Hurzeler’s woes, Jan Paul van Hecke - regarded as Brighton’s best defender - was taken off in the 61st minute. Van Hecke had missed a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace with a hamstring complaint. Per the Sussex Express, he hobbled off the Villa Park pitch and is now a ‘major doubt’ to face Liverpool.
Hurzeler said: “We know that he could not play for 90 minutes, so that was the normal procedure. We had to take him out after 60, 65. That was the maximum of his playing time, what he was capable of doing. So therefore we knew that we have to take him off.”
Stefanos Tzimas. Adam Webster and Solly March (all knee) are set to be absent for Brighton, along with Yasin Ayari (shoulder) while Mats Wieffer has been struggling with a toe injury.
In Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Sunderland, Wataru Endo was stretchered off with an ankle injury and looks set to be sidelined for a prolonged period. He will join Alexander Isak (broken leg), Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni (both knee), Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic (both hamstring) in terms of long-term absentees, while Jeremie Frimpong (groin) is unlikely to return.
Continue Reading