Liverpool XI vs Brighton: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League game today
Darwin Nunez starts for Liverpool against Brighton today, but Andy Robertson misses out injured.
Nunez sustained a hamstring injury during the agonising FA Cup quarter-final loss to fierce rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford a fortnight ago and subsequently withdrew from the Uruguay squad for international friendlies against the Basque Country and Ivory Coast.
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However, the Reds favourite had been back in training at Kirkby this week and starts at Anfield on what could be a huge Easter Sunday in the Premier League title race as Liverpool’s rivals Manchester City and Arsenal also lock horns at the Etihad Stadium later on in the afternoon.
“He did his rehab during the week, trained the first day partially since we are back and since then he is in full training,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said of Nunez on Friday.
Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Ibrahima Konate are all in the Liverpool squad to face Brighton having featured for their countries over the past week following injury worries.
Diaz and Gakpo felt groin and ankle trouble, respectively, at Old Trafford, while Konate played for France against Chile on Tuesday after sitting out four Liverpool matches due to a thigh issue. He and Gakpo are both on the bench this afternoon, but Diaz starts with Nunez and Mohamed Salah in the front three.
One Liverpool player who has returned from the internationals contending with a new fitness problem is Robertson, who hurt his ankle playing for Scotland against Northern Ireland on Tuesday. The injury is not thought to be serious, but he is not involved against Brighton.
Joe Gomez fills in at left-back, allowing Conor Bradley to return on the right side of defence.
Ryan Gravenberch is on the bench having overcome the ankle injury he suffered against Chelsea at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final, but the game comes too soon for Curtis Jones.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota are now nearing full fitness but are reportedly earmarked for comebacks early next month.
Klopp remains without the likes of Alisson Becker, Thiago Alcantara, Ben Doak and Joel Matip, while Stefan Bajcetic is building up his fitness with the Under-21s after a long injury absence.
Caoimhin Kelleher continues in goal with no Alisson, with Jarell Quansah again partnering captain Virgil van Dijk in central defence. Liverpool’s midfield and attack are unchanged from Old Trafford, with Bradley for Robertson the only alteration from that FA Cup loss.
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez, Mac Allister, Endo, Szoboszlai, Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Subs: Konate, Adrian, Gakpo, Elliott, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Clark, McConnell, Danns
Injuries: Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Jota, Thiago, Bajcetic, Doak, Matip, Robertson, Jones
Time and date: 2pm BST on Sunday March 31, 2024
Venue: Anfield
TV channel: Sky Sports
