Liverpool manager Arne Slot has hinted at the possibility of making several changes to the team ahead of their FA Cup fourth round clash against Brighton on Saturday.
Both sides previously met at this stage in the 2022-23 season, with Brighton edging the tie 2-1 to advance to the fifth round.
The Reds will be hoping to avoid a repeat of that result as the FA Cup stand as their most realistic way of claiming a silverware at the end of the season, alongside the UEFA Champions League.
It also marks their third match in the space of seven days, with Slot teasing changes to the lineup ahead of the crucial encounter at Anfield.
“The load management is important because the last thing we could use right now is another injury.”, the Dutch coach said in his pre-match press conference.
“That is always the difficult balance for the manager, including his medical staff, what is the best decision to make every single time. It is also true that a player could get injured if he has to play three games in seven days. But it also happened many times that a player could play three games in seven days.”
Liverpool will be without Japanese midfielder Endo for the clash, after he suffered an ankle injury during the midweek win at Sunderland.
The Reds also remain without Jeremie Frimpong, Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, although Joe Gomez is expected to play a part in the clash.
“So that’s the challenge we are having, but the most important thing is we have to train today, see how the players are doing, listen to how they feel and then make the best possible decision.”
Liverpool look to progress to the next round when they face Brighton at Anfield on Saturday, as they chase their first FA Cup title since 2022.
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