NINE changes, Diaz OUT: Liverpool predicted lineup vs Brighton | OneFootball

For the second time this week Liverpool will take on Brighton but this time the Reds have home advantage.

Arne Slot's side progressed into the League Cup quarter-finals by beating the Seagulls on the south coast on Wednesday evening, and just 65 hours after the final whistle, they’ll face Fabian Hurzler's in the Premier League.

The Reds will be looking to win both of their Brighton fixtures this week. But with Slot's depleted squad in the Carabao cup and one eye on the weekend, the Dutchman is expected to make a number of changes.

Nine changes expected

One guaranteed change will undoubtedly be the return of Caoimhin Kelleher. The Irishman was rested on Wednesday allowing Vitezslav Jaros to make his full Reds debut. While Jaros put on an impressive display, he will almost certainly return to the bench.

Both Ryan Gravenberch and Trent Alexander-Arnold were rested on Wednesday and did not travel with the squad. Both are expected to slot back into the starting lineup.

Virgil van Dijk travelled to the Amex but did not play while Ibrahima Konate came on for the dying minutes of the game so both are expected to start.

While Andy Robertson had a decent game at the Amex, Slot has alluded to the fact that he may not be ready to play three matches in a row and is expected to make way for Kostas Tsimikas

Jones vs Szoboszlai

Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez featured off the bench and will also be expected to start.

One place that is up for grabs in the midfield will be between Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai. Jones hasn't done anything to necessarily lose his place, but the fact he has started two games in a row may be a factor so the Scouser isn't overworked.

© IMAGO - Liverpool Brighton Cody Gakpo

Left-wing dilemma

Both Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz were on the scoresheet on Wednesday giving Slot a headache on who starts at Anfield. However, the fact that Diaz played a full 90 minutes while Gakpo was subbed off in the 71st minute could be a telling sign.

The Colombian will be hoping he gets to start his third game in a row, he could make way for his Dutch counterpart who has also performed well so far this season. Either way, whichever one Slot decides on he does have the luxury to have a good option on the bench.

Predicted line up vs Brighton:

(4-4-3) Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.