Fabrizio Romano says one Liverpool star is set for a recall by Arne Slot to the Reds starting eleven following successive injury blows.
Liverpool suffer Brighton setbacks after Arne Slot update
Slot is heading to the Amex Stadium with a mounting injury list, a tricky opponent and a lot to prove in the Premier League — and he will be doing so without his two most recognisable attacking and goalkeeping names.
Alisson-Liverpool-PSG
Alisson
Liverpool sit two points below fourth-placed Aston Villa in the table and cannot afford to keep dropping points if they are to secure Champions League football next season.
Wednesday's 4-0 destruction of Galatasaray at Anfield was one of the nights of the season — a performance bursting with quality that confirmed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals — but it has come at a significant cost.
Mohamed Salah, who scored his 50th goal in European competition on the night, asked to come off with 20 minutes remaining and headed straight down the tunnel for treatment.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah-1
Slot played down the significance at full-time, saying Salah had "felt something," but on Friday he delivered the verdict Liverpool fans were dreading.
The 32-year-old is out of Saturday's trip to Brighton and will not join the Egypt squad for the international break either, missing their friendly against Spain in the process.
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The director is a wanted man in The Gulf.
Slot was careful with his words but remained hopeful the winger's body can do what it often does.
"We hope with what Mo has shown in the past that he can recover faster than other players in a similar situation because he takes such good care of his body," the Dutchman said.
"History has shown he can be back earlier than some others — and it's only two weeks until we go again."
There is no confirmation yet on whether Salah will be available when Premier League action resumes after the break, with the FA Cup quarter-final against Man City in early April the next major target.
As if losing their star forward was not enough, it was also confirmed on Friday that Alisson has also picked up a fresh injury and will sit out the Brighton game entirely.
alisson-liverpool-premier-league
The 33-year-old has been ruled out of Brazil's upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia too, with the Brazilian Football Confederation already confirming Corinthians keeper Hugo Souza as his replacement for the international window.
Slot has two choices to replace Alisson against the Seagulls today — Giorgi Mamardashvili or Freddie Woodman.
Fabrizio Romano says Giorgi Mamardashvili will start against Brighton
According to Romano, it is the former who will start against Brighton on the south coast.
Making what will be his 13th appearance of the season for the club, Mamardashvili is tasked with keeping Fabian Hurzeler's side at bay.
The Georgian, who cost around £30 million when he arrived from Valencia last summer, has found regular minutes hard to come by but has impressed when called upon.
He stepped in for the first leg of the Galatasaray tie in Istanbul earlier this month and performed well enough to justify his inclusion.
With Conor Bradley out for the season, Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak also on the treatment table, and Joe Gomez carrying his own fitness concern, Slot is patching together a squad that has been stretched thin at the worst possible time.
Brighton, meanwhile, have won three of their last four Premier League games and will fancy their chances against a fatigued Liverpool side operating on just 60 hours of rest after that Galatasaray exertion.
This is far from a formality. Slot will need his remaining players to dig deep — and Mamardashvili will need to deliver.
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The Reds are stepping up their pursuit.