Liverpool Face Brighton Test in FA Cup Fourth Round as Reds Battle Injury Crisis

Liverpool's FA Cup hopes rest on navigating past Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield this weekend, with Arne Slot's side determined to steer clear of another premature exit from the tournament.

The Merseysiders' league campaign has proven disappointing in 2025-26, making cup competitions their primary avenue for silverware. After surrendering to Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round twelve months ago, Liverpool cannot afford another stumble at this hurdle.

Coming off a 1-0 midweek victory at Sunderland—where they became the first visiting side to win at the Stadium of Light this season—Liverpool enter as strong favourites. Brighton, by contrast, arrive in troubling form. A late own goal from Jack Hinshelwood handed them a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, extending their winless streak to five matches. Sitting just seven points clear of the relegation zone, pressure is intensifying on manager Fabian Hurzeler, though the Seagulls did pull off a notable cup upset by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford in the previous round.

Slot's Mounting Woes

Liverpool's injury list continues to grow. Wataru Endo suffered an ankle injury against Sunderland that Slot expects will keep him sidelined for an extended period. The Japanese midfielder's absence is particularly problematic given his positional flexibility, having played right-back with Jeremie Frimpong (groin) and Conor Bradley (season-ending knee surgery) unavailable.

Dominik Szoboszlai is back available after his suspension for the red card against Manchester City and could feature at right-back. Joe Gomez returned to action at Sunderland but may shift to centre-back to offer Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate respite, both having accumulated heavy minutes following Giovanni Leoni's anterior cruciate ligament injury on his debut.

Alexander Isak remains weeks away from action as he continues his recovery from a broken leg, while Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic are sidelined with hamstring problems.

Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to start in goal, with Federico Chiesa potentially receiving his first outing since the 2-1 win over Wolves in late December.

Brighton's Silver Linings

The visitors have received a timely boost with Mats Wieffer's return to fitness following a nine-game absence due to a toe injury. The Netherlands international may not slot straight into the starting eleven but should be available from the bench.

Jan Paul van Hecke was substituted against Aston Villa as a precautionary measure for a minor hamstring complaint, with no fresh concerns reported. Yasin Ayari remains unavailable with a shoulder injury, whilst Solly March, Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas continue their long-term absences.

James Milner recently equalled the Premier League all-time appearance record and could earn a rare start.

The Numbers Game

Liverpool have won four of their last five meetings with Brighton across all competitions, including a 2-0 Premier League triumph earlier this season. Since Brighton's 2017 promotion, the Reds have dominated their home encounters, winning six and drawing two of nine meetings.

This marks their seventh FA Cup clash, with both sides having progressed three times previously. Liverpool's record in fourth-round ties tells a concerning story—they have exited six of their last nine attempts, including last season's Plymouth defeat. Across the Premier League era, they have suffered 13 fourth-round eliminations, more than any other top-flight side.

Brighton, conversely, have won their last three fourth-round ties, always against Premier League opposition. Since 2017-18, the Seagulls have reached the fifth round six times, bettered only by Manchester City (eight) and Manchester United (seven). Their away-day record in the FA Cup since 2022-23 is the best in the competition, with seven victories.

Mohamed Salah represents a particular threat. Against Brighton specifically, he has amassed 10 goals and eight assists across 19 appearances, recording a direct contribution every 84.7 minutes on average. Though he has managed just one goal in his last dozen Liverpool outings, the Seagulls have historically been among his favourite prey.

Kickoff Details

The fixture takes place at 20:00 GMT on Saturday, 14 February at Anfield. Coverage begins at 19:00 on TNT Sports 1, with TalkSPORT and BBC Radio 5 Live providing radio commentary.

Despite their injury headaches, Liverpool possess sufficient attacking talent to overcome a Brighton side struggling for both form and confidence. The bookmakers reflect this expectation, pricing a home victory at 8/15.