Liverpool has 5 players missing vs Brighton after Wataru Endo blow as key star returns

Liverpool is in FA Cup action as it takes on Brighton on Saturday, although Arne Slot will be without a number of key players as he looks to guide his side to the fifth round

Liverpool will be without Wataru Endo against Brighton after he was stretchered off against Sunderland(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool turns its attention to the FA Cup on Saturday, and there's no doubt Arne Slot will be keeping his fingers crossed his players can come through their fourth-round encounter with Brighton unscathed.

The Reds host their Premier League rival as they look to go a step closer to Wembley, and what could be a second piece of silverware under Slot. The Liverpool boss has previously indicated he is taking a different approach to the competition this season, following last season’s upset against Plymouth.

He might not have any other option but to make some changes though, given the Reds’ priority lies in securing a Champions League spot for next season, and an injury list that grew further in midweek.

Wataru Endo is the latest player to be ruled out after being stretchered off against Sunderland, with Slot not expecting him back anytime soon.

"A foot injury,” Slot said while giving an update on Endo in his pre-match press conference. “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’s absence means Slot will have to find someone else to fill in at right-back against Brighton. He does have Dominik Szoboszlai back from suspension, while Joe Gomez made his return from injury off the bench at the Stadium of Light.

Given his lack of options though, the Liverpool boss may not want to risk either of those players. Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong, of course, remain out, making Szoboszlai and Gomez’s availability all the more vital.

Alexander Isak is stepping up his Liverpool injury recovery (Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Elsewhere, Alexander Isak will once again miss out, although the striker is on the road to recovery, having been pictured at the AXA Training Centre on Friday kicking a ball for the first time since breaking his leg against Tottenham in December.

It will still be a while before we see Isak in action again, although he is anticipated to return before the end of the season, so long as there are no setbacks in his recovery.

Giovanni Leoni also remains out. Like Isak, the young Italian has been seen in recent videos from the training ground, although he’s certainly not as far along as the striker in his recovery following surgery on his ACL, and he’s not expected back until next season.