Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will need to balance his lineup for the League Cup clash against Brighton, as injuries have limited his options and he has one eye on the Premier League rematch with the Seagulls on Saturday. Slot hinted that Wataru Endo “deserves to play,” likely confirming his role in midfield. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, Alisson, and Federico Chiesa are all ruled out, meaning adjustments are required both in attack and defense.
Slot faces decisions in midfield, where Dominik Szoboszlai, who came off the bench in the Arsenal match, is expected to start, likely joined by either Curtis Jones or Alexis Mac Allister. Up front, Darwin Nunez remains the only recognized striker available, making it probable he’ll start despite Liverpool’s desire to keep him fresh for the league fixture.
**Projected Starting XI:**
– **Goalkeeper:** Caoimhin Kelleher continues in Alisson’s absence, aiming to build cohesion with the backline.
– **Defense:** Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah could pair up in central defense, with Virgil van Dijk and Kostas Tsimikas as full-backs.
– **Midfield:** Endo will anchor the midfield alongside Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.
– **Attack:** Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz form the front three, as Liverpool look to maintain potency despite rotation.
**Alternate XI:**
Slot could opt for a slightly different setup:
– **Goalkeeper:** Vitezslav Jaros could start to ensure Kelleher is rested and to provide backup preparation.
– **Defense:** Alexander-Arnold shifts into right-back, with Gomez and Quansah in central defense, and Tsimikas at left-back.
– **Midfield:** Tyler Morton could make his first start since January 2022, giving Mac Allister a breather, alongside Endo and Szoboszlai.
– **Attack:** Cody Gakpo replaces Nunez to keep the latter fresh, with Salah and Diaz alongside him.
Brighton, despite dealing with injuries to key players like Lewis Dunk, James Milner, and Adam Webster, will still test Liverpool’s resilience. Liverpool’s focus will be to maintain defensive stability early on, allowing the rotated side to settle and avoid conceding before finding their rhythm.
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