The Liverpool head coach will wait a little longer to decide his line-up for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield with one new player certainly ruled out
Arne Slot speaks at his Liverpool press conference to preview the FA Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion
Arne Slot speaks at his Liverpool press conference to preview the FA Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion
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Arne Slot admits having trouble sleeping as he considers his Liverpool line-up for the FA Cup clash against Brighton on Saturday evening. The Reds entertain their Premier League rivals in the fourth round after suffering a further injury blow with Wataru Endo facing a length spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury suffered during Wednesday's 1-0 Premier League win at Sunderland.
With Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni all sidelined, the absence of the versatile Endo further limits Slot's options for rotation ahead of a third game inside seven days.
And the Liverpool boss said: "It took me a long time to get to sleep (last night) because I was constantly considering what options I have for the line-up and what I should do.
"Do you play the same players again or is it a moment for the others, but which others in which position? I need another 24 hours to decide on my line-up.
"It's not the first time this season we have to play three games in seven days and I've said many times it's part of being at a top club that you play a lot of games. But three in eight is already better and some teams have three in nine.
"Then it depends in the FA Cup on what draw you have. We play a very strong Brighton team and I think there are a lot of comparisons between Brighton and us.
"They absolutely don't deserve to be in the position they are at the moment, they play so much better than the league table shows. Almost every game they are competitive and deserve more than they get."
Slot is mindful of over-exerting his regular starters, although Dominik Szoboszlai is available after suspension and Joe Gomez returned from a hip injury with a cameo from the bench at the Stadium of Light.
"We have three priorities - FA Cup, Champions League qualification and the Champions League," he said. "But we are always aware of the limited options we have in terms of the squad.
"The load management is important as well because the last thing we could use right now is another injury. That is always a difficult balance for a manager including the performance staff and medical staff, deciding what is the best decision to make every single time.
"It is also true that it wouldn't be for the first time a player could get injured if he has to play three games in seven days. But it happened also many, many, many times that a player could just play three times in seven days.
"That's the challenge we are having, but we have to train today, see how the players are doing, listen to how they feel and then make the best possible decision."
Teenage duo Rio Ngumoha - who started in the last round against Barnsley - and Trey Nyoni are among those pressing for a start, along with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, midfielder Curtis Jones and forward Federico Chiesa.
And of the Academy hopefuls, Slot said: "A few of them are coming closer and closer to first-team football and a few of them have already had it in Rio and Trey.
"Games like this could be an option for them as well. But it's finding the right balance because we do play a very strong and good team in Brighton.
"It being a Premier League opponent makes it tougher. If we'd had a different opponent I maybe would make other choices."
Liverpool are still waiting for the results of scans on the severity of Endo's injury although Slot has reiterated the Japan international has suffered a significant setback.
"We still need to do some assessments but it's clear and obvious that he will be out for quite a long time," he said.
"Don't forget that he's a good centre-back and a good midfielder as well. If you look at the number six position or the two centre-back positions, we are quite vulnerable there as well if something happens. Let's try to make sure the players we have remain fit."