A look at how Liverpool might line up when they entertain Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday in the FA Cup
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Liverpool's Wataru Endo receives treatment to his leg during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on February 11, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Wataru Endo receives treatment during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on February 11, 2026(Image: Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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The FA Cup, certainly at the fourth-round stage, would usually be met with a raft of Liverpool changes. But Saturday's visit from Brighton & Hove Albion could be a case of no love lost for Arne Slot on Valentine's Day.
The world's oldest cup competition represents the Reds' most realistic chance of silverware this term and while hope will always spring eternal in the Champions League where this club is concerned, it is unlikely Slot will be resting and rotating heavily for this one.
Liverpool don't play for eight days after this, when they visit a Nottingham Forest, who will likely have a new manager in place by then, so there can be no bleating about fixture congestion, and given the need to salvage as much as possible from this difficult campaign to date, the head coach has to go as strong as possible.
That being said, Wataru Endo won't be able to be called upon as he joins the growing list of injury concerns at Anfield. Slot admitted after Wednesday's 1-0 win over Sunderland that the Japan captain will likely be sidelined for a prolonged period after an awkward landing when clearing a cross in the second half.
So, just who starts at right-back? That has been the season-long problem for the Reds boss, who conceded on Wednesday: "You can hardly believe what this right-full back position brings us this season."
Calvin Ramsay is still ready for selection but Slot has made it clear he views other, more experienced players as more suitable options just now. The return of Dominik Szoboszlai has come at the right time, even if the Hungary captain would rather be bossing the midfield battle. The No.8 has excelled all season but he will almost certainly be expected to put in another shift in the back four against the visiting Seagulls.
Milos Kerkez may return for Andy Robertson at left-back and there is a debate to be had over whether Joe Gomez starts over Ibrahima Konate. Having said that, Slot could well keep faith with the centre-half partnership who excelled at Sunderland, who were unbeaten at home prior to the 1-0 loss.
Gomez, who returned on Wednesday after over a fortnight sidelined with a hip issue, may be kept in reserve and deployed from the bench if needed in either the central or right-back spots at the back.
In midfield, Curtis Jones is vying for a recall and he could come in for Alexis Mac Allister, who put in quite the second-half shift in the North East. Ryan Gravenberch is also available while Trey Nyoni will be waiting in the wings for a surprise inclusion also.
Nyoni, ordinarily, might have anticipated game time in the FA Cup, but Slot is having to go strong this time out given the new-found importance of this competition it seems. The in-form Florian Wirtz will likely keep his No.10 role.
The Germany international was excellent against Regis Le Bris's Sunderland on Wednesday night and under the lights at Anfield could be the perfect setting to continue the sort of form that earned him January's player of the month award at Liverpool.
Like Nyoni, this will have been a game Rio Ngumoha circled on his calendar on the draw was made but Slot might keep faith with Cody Gakpo in the knowledge that over a week between games is perfect at this juncture of the term.
With Alexander Isak still sidelined and Jayden Danns out as well, Hugo Ekitike will once more lead the line, with Mohamed Salah only really challenged for a place by Federico Chiesa, who rarely starts under Slot.
With no Champions League play-off fixture to concern themselves with, however, Slot can go full strength on Saturday night with the just that pesky right-back spot the only contentious decision.
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