Liverpool vs. Brighton – News and Probable Lineups

Liverpool, who have lifted the FA Cup eight times, host Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield for a fourth-round encounter this Saturday evening.

The Seagulls will be eager to avenge their 2-0 loss to the Reds on Merseyside in mid-December.

Match overview

After a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester City in the Premier League, Liverpool bounced back on Wednesday night by narrowly defeating Sunderland 1-0, marking the Black Cats’ first defeat of the season at the Stadium of Light.

Virgil van Dijk’s header in the second half secured three points and reignited their Champions League aspirations, with Liverpool currently sixth in the league, trailing rivals Man United by three points in fourth place with 12 matches still to play.

Returning to Anfield this weekend will be welcomed by Liverpool, where they are unbeaten in their last 11 home fixtures against Brighton (W8 D3), since losing 2-1 in the FA Cup fifth round in February 1983. The Reds have also enjoyed four victories in their last five contests against the Seagulls across all competitions (L1).

This will be the seventh FA Cup meeting between Liverpool and Brighton, with each team having progressed three times – Liverpool in 1907-08, 1990-91, and 2011-12, while Brighton saw success in 1982-83, 1983-84, and 2022-23.

Interestingly, Liverpool have faced elimination in six of their past nine FA Cup fourth-round matches, having been knocked out at this stage last season by Plymouth Argyle. In the Premier League era (since 1992-93), the Merseysiders have been eliminated 13 times at this round, notably more than any other Premier League side (Tottenham follows with 11).

Brighton’s luck has taken a downturn in February, suffering consecutive 1-0 defeats in the Premier League against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, with their loss to the latter extending their winless league streak to six matches (D3 L3).

The Seagulls have managed just one victory in their last 13 Premier League encounters (D6 L6), putting additional pressure on head coach Fabian Hurzeler, whose team has slipped to 14th in the standings, sitting seven points clear of the relegation zone and eight points behind seventh-placed Brentford, who they will face next in the league on February 21.

A successful FA Cup run would boost morale for Brighton, who have triumphed in their last three fourth-round matches, overcoming Premier League sides in each of those seasons. Since their promotion to the top division in 2017, they have reached the fifth round six times, with only Manchester City (eight) and Man United (seven) achieving this more frequently since the 2017-18 campaign.

Although Brighton’s record at Anfield has been less than stellar, they enter the weekend having won seven of their last eight FA Cup away fixtures (L1), including a notable 2-1 victory over Man United at Old Trafford in round three. Since the onset of the 2022-23 season, they have recorded more away victories than any other team in the competition (seven since the first round).

The Seagulls also defeated Liverpool 2-1 at the Amex Stadium in the fourth round of the FA Cup in January 2023, thanks to goals from Lewis Dunk and Kaoru Mitoma, providing a reason for optimism for Hurzeler and his squad.

Team News

Wataru Endo of Liverpool was taken off on a stretcher during the victory against Sunderland after twisting his ankle, joining Alexander Isak (leg), Jeremie Frimpong (thigh), Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni (both knee) in the treatment room.

Joe Gomez made his return from injury in midweek, taking over from Endo at right-back; however, it’s uncertain if he will be fit enough to start this weekend, with Slot also contemplating bringing back Dominik Szoboszlai after his one-match suspension against Sunderland.

Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez, Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa, and Rio Ngumoha will all be vying for a spot in the starting XI, while Mohamed Salah has notched 10 goals and provided eight assists in 19 encounters with Brighton, which may influence Slot’s decision to keep the Egyptian in the lineup on the right wing.

On the Brighton side, Stefanos Tzimas, Adam Webster, Solly March (all knee), and Yasin Ayari (shoulder) continue to be sidelined due to injuries, whereas Mats Wieffer is set to make his return to the matchday squad after overcoming a toe injury.

Hurzeler is expected to refresh his starting lineup, as goalkeeper Jason Steele, Maxim De Cuyper, Olivier Boscagli, Jack Hinshelwood, Harry Howell, Yankuba Minteh, and Georginio Rutter are all potential candidates for recall.

James Milner, a former Liverpool midfielder, who equaled Gareth Barry’s all-time Premier League appearances record recently, might be given a rare opportunity to start in central midfield alongside either Hinshelwood, Pascal Gross, Carlos Baleba, or the 17-year-old Harry Howell.

Liverpool possible starting XI:

Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; church

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting XI:

Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Boscagli, De Cuyper; Milner, Baleba; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck

In 11 of the last 13 encounters between Liverpool and Brighton across all competitions, at least three goals have been recorded, indicating that another exhilarating, back-and-forth match is likely this weekend.

The Reds should not underestimate the Seagulls despite their challenging run of form; however, Slot’s team will be viewed as favorites to secure a win at Anfield, even if they opt to rest a few key players.