Liverpool are next up against Sunderland in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
Cody Gakpo started on the left of the attack against Brighton
Cody Gakpo started on the left of the attack against Brighton(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool kept their challenge for honours alive when they beat Brighton 3-0 in their FA Cup fourth round tie at Anfield on Saturday evening. Curtis Jones opened the scoring before half-time with Dominik Szoboszlai and a Mohamed Salah penalty completing a comfortable victory.
Arne Slot's side will now aim to close the gap on the top five in the Premier League when they travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
And here we look ahead to the changes Reds head coach Slot could make when his team are next in action.
Gomez answers call?
Slot went strong in the FA Cup at the weekend but was still able to rotate a number of players, and with eight days between games there is a chance to give his squad a much-needed breather this week.
It was perhaps a slight surprise Alisson Becker started against Brighton, but he is the clear first-choice between the sticks in the Premier League ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman.
Milos Kerkez returned at left-back and is ahead of Andy Robertson in the pecking order, while the return of Joe Gomez could offer some leeway in other areas of the rearguard.
Gomez is an option at right-back where Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai have started recently. Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo are both out while Jeremie Frimpong is nearing a return after a hamstring problem. Calvin Ramsay has been a regular on the bench but has yet to feature in the Premier League.
And Gomez also offers an alternative at centre-back to Ibrahima Konate and skipper Virgil van Dijk, with Giovanni Leoni out for the season and youngster Wellity Lucky injured.
Szoboszlai decision
There was a tweak in midfield at the weekend with Ryan Gravenberch benched. The Dutchman, though, will be expected to return at the base of the engine room where Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai operated against Brighton.
Jones, who scored when starting at right-back on Saturday, is another option, and could also do a job in the number 10 role although Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai have been the preferred choices in the position for Slot this season.
Finding the best position for Szoboszlai is likely to determine the make-up of the midfield. Trey Nyoni has been handed just a couple of Premier League cameos from the bench while Endo and Stefan Bajcetic are out.
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Ekitike back
Hugo Ekitike was given a well-earned rest on the bench against Brighton but will be expected to return to the centre forward role occupied by Federico Chiesa.
Chiesa remains an option across the front line but is likely to drop out with Mohamed Salah expected to continue on the right flank.
Cody Gakpo has occupied the left wing of late but will could come under pressure from Wirtz for a starting role should Szoboszlai be moved into the number 10 role. Teenager Rio Ngumoha had a run-out as substitute on Saturday but striker Jayden Danns remains out.
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