Liverpool line-ups for Brighton as Rio Ngumoha unleashed and Hugo Ekitike decision made

Liverpool line-ups for Brighton as Rio Ngumoha unleashed and Hugo Ekitike decision made

Our Liverpool writers select their line-ups for Saturday night's FA Cup fourth-round clash against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield

Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Writer, Paul Gorst Liverpool FC correspondent and Paul Wheelock Head of sport

Rio Ngumoha walks out at the chilly AXA Training Centre on Friday for Liverpool's final training session before this weekend's FA Cup clash(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Having put their Champions League qualification bid back on track, Liverpool turn their attention to the FA Cup tonight. A top-four finish is the minimum of the defending Premier League champions' ambitions.

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But if they can achieve that, and also win a trophy, then what has been a difficult campaign for Arne Slot and his players could yet end memorably.

Liverpool have already proven this season they are the match for the best in the Champions League. But perhaps the FA Cup represents their best chance of silverware.

Standing in the way of a place in the last-16 are Brighton & Hove Albion, whose manager Fabian Hurzeler heads into this evening's fourth-round tie at Anfield (8pm kick-off) under pressure after a run of just one win in 13 Premier League matches.

However, Slot is in no position to make wholesale changes. What, then, is the Reds boss to do? Our writers have their say...

Paul Gorst

The question for this one is just how much Arne Slot rotates. Liverpool are heading into their third game in six days but don’t play for another eight after it, so does the head coach keep faith with those who earned a big away victory at Sunderland?

Dominik Szoboszlai returns but it’s in a right-back spot for me. Milos Kerkez is also recalled, giving Andy Robertson a place on the bench. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk partner one another centrally. Joe Gomez can be wrapped in cotton wool.

Curtis Jones returns alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister can wait in the wings with Trey Nyoni, who hopefully can get some minutes. Florian Wirtz occupies the No.10 role.

Mohamed Salah stars and I am making young Rio Ngumoha a starter also, off the left of the front three.

Hugo Ekitike though could use a rest so Cody Gakpo leads the line with the 15-goal top scorer in reserve if needed. Slot must be careful with not over-exerting Ekitike so this feels like an ideal one to sit out.

My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Gakpo.

Ian Doyle

The FA Cup is the greatest domestic club knockout competition in the world for a reason. And that's because it is the greatest domestic club knockout competition in the world.

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Liverpool will have to overcome Brighton if they are to keep alive their hopes of lifting the trophy for a ninth time and maintain the momentum of the midweek Premier League win at Sunderland.

What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?

For me, there have to be changes. But choosing which ones isn't exactly straightforward.

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Except in goal, where Giorgi Mamardashvili comes in. And I'd have Milos Kerkez returning at left-back with Joe Gomez having an hour at right-back. Ibrahima Konate and captain Virgil van Dijk can continue at centre-back.

In midfield, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai can form the double pivot, with Florian Wirtz going again in the number 10 role.

And up top, Cody Gakpo can shift across to the middle with Mohamed Salah on the right and Rio Ngumoha coming in on the left.