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Arne Slot talks to TNT Sports. “[The win at Sunderland] was very important because we have lost far too many times games we didn’t deserve to lose … far too many points behind teams we want to compete with … [we won] by a set piece, which was unusual for us … we always try to go for every trophy … that is normal if you are Liverpool … we also have to be realistic … we cannot take the risk of losing more players than we have already lost … it is a very strong team but maybe usually people would have expected Hugo [Ekitike] and Ryan [Gravenberch] … I prefer to have more midfielders than defenders or attackers because midfielders are able to play in multiple positions … [Brighton] have a strong first team and bench … no academy players on the bench … but if you look here [gesticulates towards the Liverpool teamsheet] you see a bit of a difference … [both teams] have been unlucky this season.”
He’s also pressed, by TNT pundit Steve McManaman slipping into full passive-aggressive banter mode – “You can tell us, we won’t tell anybody” - into revealing that Curtis Jones will fill in at right-back and not Dominik Szoboszlai. “I don’t think it matters much if another team knows,” he sniffs reluctantly, a little frost at the edges of a very low-intensity smile.
Liverpool make four changes to their starting line-up after their 1-0 win at Sunderland. Dominik Szoboszlai returns from suspension, while Curtis Jones, Milos Kerkez and Federico Chiesa all step up. Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Andrew Robertson drop to the bench, while Wataru Endo is injured.
Brighton make three changes to their starting XI following their 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Jason Steele replaces Bart Verbruggen in goal, while Charalampos Kostoulas and 17-year-old Harry Howell come in for Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck, surprisingly dropped to the bench.
The teams
Liverpool: Alisson, Szoboszlai, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Jones, Wirtz, Salah, Chiesa, Gakpo.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Steele, Dunk, van Hecke, Hinshelwood, Kostoulas, Baleba, Kadioglu, Gomez, Gross, Veltman, Howell.
Preamble
Liverpool go into this match off the back of an impressive midweek win at Sunderland that eased the pressure building on Arne Slot. Brighton by contrast are reeling from the concession of a late, late winner at Aston Villa. Meanwhile the Reds have won four of their last five matches against the Seagulls. So.
But! Brighton created plenty of chances in their 2-0 defeat at Anfield a couple of months ago. And they’ve got form against Liverpool in the cup, having knocked Jürgen Klopp’s side out three years ago, and famously seeing off the otherwise all-conquering team of the Paisley-Fagan era in back-to-back seasons. So despite being on an underwhelming run right now – no win for Fabian Hürzeler’s men since the third-round victory at Manchester United, six matches ago – they’ll not be without hope. Could be a doozy. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. Extra time and pens if necessary. It’s on!
