Why Alisson Becker and Mo Salah are not playing for Liverpool against Brighton
Mo Salah and Alisson Becker absences explained as Liverpool
Arne Slot makes two changes as Liverpool face Brighton in the Premier League at the AMEX Stadium.
Mo Salah and Alisson Becker are both missing from the Reds’ squad. Salah had to be substituted in the 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League earlier this week, with Slot ruling the winger out in his pre-match press conference. Cody Gakpo comes back into the starting line-up.
The Brazilian FA revealed that Alisson had suffered an injury and pulled out of next week’s internationals, with the goalkeeper not travelling to Brighton. It means that Giorgi Mamardashvili deputises between the posts.
Asked about Mamardashvili, Liverpool head coach Slot told TNT Sports: "Strong, I think we've all seen that. Away at Galatasaray he had to be in goal because Ali wasn't there as well. He has been in goal a lot of times this season, as Caoimhin Kelleher last season was. I think at a club like ours it's really important to have two very good goalkeepers and we have that. That's crucial and important for us, especially because Ali is out now."
Joe Gomez has been named on the bench despite being doubful to feature on the south coast.
A win for Liverpool will see them move fourth in the Premier League table amid the battle for Champions League qualification.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Mac Allister; Gakpo, Ekitike.
Subs: Woodman, Gomez, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha