Brighton has 4 players missing for Liverpool game in FA Cup fourth round but gets major boost

Brighton travels to Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup this weekend and the Seagulls have been given a boost by the return to fitness of an important player

Mats Wieffer is back fit for Brighton after several weeks out with a toe injury(Image: AFP or licensors)

Brighton will be without four players for Saturday's FA Cup meeting with Liverpool, but the club has been boosted by the return to fitness of Mats Wieffer.

Versatile Dutchman Wieffer has not played since the end of December due to a toe injury, but Fabian Hurzeler confirmed earlier this week that he is set to be available for Brighton's trip to Anfield.

Giving an update on the state of his squad after Brighton's defeat by Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday, boss Hurzeler said: “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 remain without long-term absentees Solly March, Stefanos Tzimas and Adam Webster, while Yasin Ayari is not yet ready to return to action.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will be without five players for the game, after Wataru Endo was added to the Reds' injury list during Wednesday's win at Sunderland.

Liverpool is still waiting to discover the full extent of the issue but the injury is believed to be serious.

"A foot injury,” Slot said while giving an update on Endo in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “We still need to do some assessments, but it's clear and obvious he will be out for quite a long time.

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo is facing a lengthy spell out (Image: Getty Images)

"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."

The Reds remain without long-term absentees Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, although Isak's return may not be far away after he started doing some work with the ball this week.

Jeremie Frimpong is still out too – Frimpong's injury is not as bad as Liverpool first feared when he was forced off during the Champions League win over Qarabag last month, but the Brighton game will be the fourth in a row that he has missed.

Dominik Szoboszlai will be available for selection once again after serving a one-game suspension against Sunderland, following his red card in stoppage time of Liverpool's defeat by Manchester City last weekend.