Liverpool are back in FA Cup action this weekend but will Arne Slot's injury problems stop them from reaching the fifth round of the competition?
Wataru Endo (Liverpool FC) looks on
Liverpool are set to be without Wataru Endo for a significant period of the season(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
View Image
Liverpool divert their attention to the FA Cup this weekend, hosting top-flight rivals Brighton at Anfield on Saturday night. The Reds advanced came through the previous round with a comfortable 4-1 win over Barnsley, though a string of injuries has since threatened chances of silverware this season.
These injuries have played their part in derailing the reigning Premier League champions' title charge this season, as they sit sixth - 15 points behind leaders Arsenal. It has also seen Liverpool eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the early rounds, leaving the Champions League and FA Cup as the only real prospect of collecting a trophy.
The Reds go into this weekend's match off the back of a confidence-boosting 1-0 win at Sunderland on Wednesday night. They face an opponent who have not won in five outings since they defeated Manchester United in the previous round of the cup.
With that, the ECHO provides the latest on the injury front from both Liverpool and Brighton camps heading into the all-Premier League cup clash.
Liverpool injuries
Liverpool were handed their latest injury blow in the midweek win over Sunderland as midfielder Wataru Endo, who was deputising at right-back, required a stretcher to leave the field approaching 70 minutes.
Giving an update ahead of the Brighton game, Slot clarified: "[It is] a foot injury. We still need to do some assessments but it's clear and obvious he will be out for quite a long time.
"Don't forget, he is a good centre-back and good midfielder for us as well and it is not as if in those positions we're quite vulnerable there as well if something happens. Let's try and make sure the players we do have stay fit."
Endo was stuck at right-back on Wearside as Dominik Szoboszlai, who had been deputising in the position, was suspended following his red card in injury time vs Manchester City at Anfield last weekend. The Hungarian is available for Brighton having served his one-game sentence.
So too is Joe Gomez, as he returned from injury in place of Endo on Wednesday night, though Slot's two main right-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley remain absent. The former sustained a hamstring injury early in last month's Champions League win over Qarabag at Anfield, whilst the latter's season was ended with a knee injury at Arsenal, also last month.
Central defender Giovanni Leoni will also sit out the remainder of the season in recovery from the ACL injury he picked up whilst making his debut for the club last September.
And lastly, Liverpool will hope to have Alexander Isak back before the end of the season. The £125m signing required surgery on a lower leg break at Christmastime with a timeframe around March speculated for his return to action.
*FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page*
Brighton injuries
In the visiting camp, Brighton have been given a timely boost as head coach Fabian Hurzeler confirmed as well as no new injuries from his side's defeat to Aston Villa in midweek, Mats Wieffer is ready to return to playing.
The midfielder, who formerly played under Slot at Feyenoord, has been absent with a foot injury since December. Hurzeler said: "No new injuries. Mats Wieffer will be back so that’s a positive one. He’s a big player with a big impact on our game. Big personality as well. So definitely we missed him and we're all happy that he's back now."
The Seagulls remain without long-term absentees Solly March, Stefanos Tzimas and Adam Webster, while Yasin Ayari is not yet ready to return to action after a recent shoulder problem.
"He is doing rehab, but he's getting closer. We expect him to be back soon," Hurzeler added, looking ahead to Liverpool.