Liverpool vs Brighton live: Chiesa makes rare start as Reds take on Premier League rivals in FA Cup
Brighton travel to Anfield for a testing FA Cup tie against the Premier League champions
Liverpool play host to Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round looking to advance in the domestic competition and further Arne Slot’s quest for silverware this year.
With the Reds’ defence of their Premier League title all but over the FA Cup, along with the Champions League, are the only opportunities for them to win trophies in this campaign. Liverpool swept Barnsley aside 4-1 in the third round but have been inconsistent in the league with two wins, one draw and two defeats coming since the victory over the League One side.
Brighton are in a similar position. Though their third round clash was a thrilling 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Seagulls have since gone on a five-game winless run including narrow defeats to Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in their last two outings.
When these teams met in the Premier League earlier this season, Liverpool came out 2-0 winners at Anfield and it seems a similar result is the most likely outcome unless Brighton can banish their recent dip in form.
Follow all the action from the FA Cup with our live blog below:
Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool role is changing – and not in the way we expected
Brighton were due at Anfield and Mohamed Salah had told his family to come. It might have been his last game for Liverpool. And then, for different reasons, it might not have been. Salah was exiled from the squad after an outburst, not taken to Italy to face Inter in the Champions League. It was only on the Friday afternoon that it was confirmed he would face Brighton. Which, as a substitute, he did.
It is only 10 weeks ago. As Brighton return to Anfield, it is with Salah as a subplot and a safe assumption that his Liverpool career does not end now, or with an interview outside Elland Road. He did go after Brighton were beaten 2-0, but to the Africa Cup of Nations. Since he returned, Liverpool have played six games and he has started all six, completing five. The man who said he had been thrown under the bus has instead been thrown into the action.
Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool role is changing – and not in the way we expected
Arne Slot discusses squad rotation
Liverpool have gone pretty strong tonight with their line-up and Arne Slot has discussed the tough balancing act between squad rotation and winning matches
"We have to be realistic"
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 14, 2026
Arne Slot explains how difficult it is to find the balance between winning games and rotating his squad 🔄
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/WPWExTVuNO
Arne Slot confirms Liverpool in fresh talks with Ibrahima Konate over contract extension
Liverpool are in talks with Ibrahima Konate about a new contract with Arne Slot saying he wants the defender to stay.
The Premier League champions risk losing the £36m signing on a free transfer in the summer when his current deal expires.
And Liverpool are bringing in other central defenders with Giovanni Leoni arriving last summer for £26m and the club agreeing an initial £55m deal for Jeremy Jacquet, who will move to Anfield at the end of this season.
Slot confirms fresh talks with Konate over contract extension
'A year on, this is a very strong Liverpool team'
Our Senior Football Correspondent, Richard Jolly is at Anfield tonight and has given his thoughts on the Liverpool line-up
“Arne Slot picked a much-weakened side in the FA Cup fourth round against Plymouth last year and Liverpool lost. A year on and this is a very strong team with only Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch of the strongest available 11 on the bench.
“Federico Chiesa gets a rare start in attack while Dominik Szoboszlai returns from a ban, presumably at right-back.
“Brighton, who knocked out Manchester United in the last round, are looking for a rare double, but are out of form in the Premier League.”
Match stats
Liverpool have been eliminated from six of their last nine FA Cup fourth round ties and were eliminated at this stage last season by Plymouth. In the Premier League era, the Reds have suffered 13 eliminations at this stage – two more than other Premier League side (Spurs have been eliminated 11 times).
Brighton have won their last three FA Cup fourth round ties, beating a Premier League side in each season. Indeed, since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2017, they’ve reached the fifth round six times, with only Man City (8) and Man Utd (7) doing so more often.
When is FA Cup fifth-round draw? Date, start time, ball numbers and how to watch on TV
The fifth-round draw will take place on Monday 16 February, likely ahead of Macclesfield’s tie against Brentford which kicks off at 7:30pm GMT.
The draw will take place in the broadcast before kick-off, which starts at 6:30pm, with the draw set to start at around 6:35pm GMT.
When is FA Cup fifth-round draw? Date, start time, ball numbers and TV
Brighton team news
And here’s Brighton. This looks a pretty defensive set up by Fabian Hurzeler and there appears to be a slight lack of pace?
Liverpool team news
Here’s how Liverpool will line up this evening. Arne Slot has gone pretty strong although Federico Chiesa gets a rare start.
Team news
The line-ups should be released in the next few minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news for both sides...
Liverpool’s right-back curse continued on Wednesday night as makeshift defender Wataru Endo suffered a suspected season-ending foot injury, joining Conor Bradley and Jeremy Frimpong on the sidelines. Giorgi Mamardashvili is likely to start as Arne Slot’s cup keeper, while the Reds manager also hinted at rotation which could see youngsters Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni involved. Dominic Szoboszlai is back from suspension.
Brighton will be buoyed by the return of Mats Wieffer from a toe problem but remain without Stefanos Tzimas, Adam Webster, Solly March and Yasin Ayari. James Milner could be awarded a rare start against his former club.
Match stats
Liverpool have won four of their last five matches against Brighton in all competitions (L1), beating them 2-0 at Anfield earlier this season in the Premier League.
This will be the seventh FA Cup between Liverpool and Brighton, with both sides progressing three times each.
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