Why Ryan Gravenberch is not starting for Liverpool and Alexander Isak is not playing against Brighton

Arne Slot has made four changes for Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Brighton at Anfield.

Federico Chiesa is handed a rare start for the Reds. The Italian is set to spearhead the attack, replacing Hugo Ekitike from the 1-0 win over Sunderland earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai returns from suspension and comes in for Ryan Gravenberch, who is handed a rest. Gravenberch has started 31 of the 32 games he’s started this season.

At right-back, the injured Wataru Endo is replaced by another midfielder in Curtis Jones rather than Calvin Ramsay coming into the line-up.

On the opposite side of defence, Milos Kerkez is back as he comes in for Andy Roberson. Jeremie Frimpong (groin), Alexander Isak (broken leg), Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni (both knee), Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic (both hamstring) are injured.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Liverpool head coach Slot said: "If you look at the line-up today, two players who usually play have been on the edge for quite a while, because 13 to 14 players are constantly having to play all the games. So, that is a difficult balance to find because, yes, we do want to win, we do want to go on a run in this competition. But we cannot take the risk of losing more players than we already lost. I think it's a very strong team but usually people would have expected maybe Hugo and Ryan. But the two of them are, for me, for long too long on the edge, so that's why I decided not to play them."

A win for Liverpool against Premier League rivals Brighton will see them move into the fifth round of the competition.

Liverpool: Alisson, Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Wirtz, Chiesa.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Ekitike, Robertson, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha.