9 players at risk of missing Liverpool vs Brighton as Arne Slot gives update

Liverpool injury news ahead of FA Cup fifth round clash with Brighton at Anfield on Saturday, including Arne Slot's latest update on Wataru Endo's serious injury

Arne Slot's Liverpool players take on Brighton on Saturday(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool shifts its focus to the FA Cup this weekend, welcoming Premier League team Brighton to Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds progressed from the previous round with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Barnsley, although a series of injuries has since jeopardised their chances of lifting a trophy this season. These injuries have contributed to derailing Liverpool's Premier League title pursuit this season, as the team currently sits sixth, 15 points adrift of Arsenal in first.

It also resulted in Liverpool's early exit from the Carabao Cup, leaving the Champions League and FA Cup as the only realistic chances for silverware. The Reds enter this weekend's fixture on the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 triumph at Sunderland on Wednesday.

They face a Brighton team that has not tasted victory in five matches since its win over Manchester United in the previous cup round.

With that in mind, Liverpool.com provides the latest injury updates from both the Liverpool and Brighton camps ahead of the all-Premier League cup showdown.

Liverpool was dealt its most recent injury setback in the midweek victory over Sunderland when midfielder Wataru Endo, filling in at right-back, needed a stretcher to exit the pitch around the 70-minute mark.

Wataru Endo has suffered an injury(Image: Getty Images)

Providing an update ahead of the Brighton match, Slot clarified: "A foot injury. We still need to do some assessments, but it's clear and obvious he will be out for quite a long time.

"Don't forget, he is a good center-back and good midfielder for us as well, and it is not as if in those positions we're quite vulnerable there as well if something happens. Let's try and make sure the players we do have stay fit."

Endo was deployed at right-back on Wearside as Dominik Szoboszlai, who had been filling in at that position, was suspended following his red card during injury time against Manchester City at Anfield last weekend. The Hungarian is now available for Brighton, having completed his one-match ban.

Joe Gomez is also available, having recovered from injury to replace Endo on Wednesday, though Slot's two primary right-backs, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, remain unavailable. The former suffered a hamstring injury early in last month's Champions League victory over Qarabag at Anfield, while the latter's campaign was ended by a knee injury at Arsenal, also last month.

Center-back Giovanni Leoni will likewise be absent for the rest of the season as he recovers from the ACL injury he sustained while making his club debut last September.

Finally, Liverpool will be hoping to have Alexander Isak back before the season concludes. The striker underwent surgery on a lower leg fracture at Christmas, with a timeframe around March mooted for his return to the pitch.

In the away camp, Brighton has received a timely lift as head coach Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that aside from no new injuries following his team's loss to Aston Villa in midweek, Mats Wieffer is set to return to action.

The midfielder, who previously played under Slot at Feyenoord, has been sidelined with a foot injury since December. Hurzeler stated: "No new injuries. Mats Wieffer will be back so that's a positive one. He's a big player with a big impact on our game. Big personality as well. So definitely we missed him and we're all happy that he's back now."

The Seagulls are still without long-term absentees Solly March, Stefanos Tzimas and Adam Webster, while Yasin Ayari is not yet ready to make a comeback after a recent shoulder issue. "He is doing rehab, but he's getting closer. We expect him to be back soon," Hurzeler added, looking forward to the Liverpool match.