Liverpool team vs Brighton predicted as Mohamed Salah decision made amid eight changes

Arne Slot faces a difficult balancing act as Liverpool takes on Brighton in the Carabao Cup later this evening.

The game presents an opportunity for the Reds boss to rotate his squad amid a busy, and tough, schedule. Having fought to a draw at Arsenal just a few days ago, Liverpool still has to face Brighton again, Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa before the next international break.

But Slot is limited to the amount of changes he can make due to the injury problems currently in his squad. The Reds will once again be without Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota this evening, meaning tonight’s team will likely be stronger than Slot might have hoped.

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He faces a tricky decision off the bat as he chooses his goalkeeper. Caoimhin Kelleher has made the cup competitions his own in recent years, but considering he’s currently deputizing for Alisson on all fronts, should he be afforded a rest as Vitezslav Jaros makes his first senior start for the club? We’ve stuck with Kelleher in goal, although it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see Jaros get the nod.

Defense is a little easier to work out. Liverpool has some quality back-up options at center-back and left-back in Jarell Quansah, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas, so Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson can have a rest.

The big question at the back is who starts at right-back? Trent Alexander-Arnold could do with putting his feet up for the night, but Conor Bradley has only just returned to training after picking up a knock on international duty. Hopefully the Northern Irishman is back to full fitness now, and he should start if so.

Slot has all but confirmed one of his starters in midfield. Wataru Endo will get his opportunity, having impressed in cameo appearances so far this season, and he’ll be able to give Ryan Gravenberch a well-earned rest.

Who starts alongside him is a little trickier to predict. Curtis Jones played 90 minutes before making way at Arsenal, while Alexis Mac Allister has started the last two games, so you’d imagine Slot would want to give both a rest.

Tyler Morton may therefore be in line to make a start, having been on the bench in recent games. Dominik Szoboszlai can return to the starting line-up, having been a substitute at the weekend.

With Jota and Chiesa out, options are very limited in attack, so it will likely be a strong front three that starts. Mohamed Salah’s fitness is usually very dependable, so the Egyptian can take his usual spot on the right, while Darwin Nunez is effectively the only No.9 option at the moment.

It’s then a toss-up between Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz on the left. Having not started at Arsenal, we’ll go with the latter, especially since he has enjoyed himself in this competition.

Liverpool predicted team vs Brighton: Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Morton; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Nunez.