(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Fri 20 March 2026 9:32, UK

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Liverpool are unlikely to risk Mohamed Salah from the start when they travel to face Brighton and Hove Albion in Saturday’s early kick-off.

The Egyptian asked to be substituted in the 74th minute of Wednesday night’s Champions League win over Galatasaray, and TNT Sports cameras captured the veteran heading straight down the tunnel after leaving the pitch.

The exact extent of Salah’s injury is currently unknown, but with the Reds facing a tight turnaround before their return to Premier League action, it is surely highly unlikely that he will play from the off.

Arne Slot could be set to make three changes to the side that triumphed in midweek, and it remains to be seen whether the winger will be fit enough to be included as part of the matchday squad.

Liverpool’s clash with Brighton is crucial to their ongoing fight to secure Champions League qualification for next term, and as a result, the boss is set to name a strong side on the South Coast.

Arne Slot opts for experience in full-back positions

Slot opted to start Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez against Galatasaray in midweek, but it could be a different story this weekend against an improving Brighton side.

Fabian Hurzeler’s men had looked to be sleepwalking towards the relegation battle after a poor run at the start of February, but three wins from their last four games have seen them get themselves firmly back on track.

Their only defeat in that run came against Arsenal, and with that in mind, Slot may opt for a slightly more cautious approach, as his team travel to a ground that has caused them numerous problems in recent years.

The Reds haven’t won on any of their last three league trips to the Amex Stadium, and they will be desperately hoping to set that record straight on Saturday.

Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez could start from the off in the two full-back positions, as the boss tries to add further security to a defence that has kept just one clean sheet in the last six games.

Cody Gakpo is likely to come in as Salah’s replacement, while Florian Wirtz may move into a right-sided role to accommodate star man Dominik Szoboszlai in a central position.

Hugo Ekitike is set to lead the line once again as he goes in search of his 12th Premier League goal of the season, while Slot will hope that Salah could be fit enough to play a late cameo role if needed.

Keith Hackett: Liverpool disallowed goal vs Galatasaray goal should have stood

Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider on Thursday that Alexis Mac Allister’s disallowed goal against Galatasaray in midweek should have been allowed to stand by referee Pawel Raczkowski.

The Argentine bundled the ball home from close range after Virgil van Dijk had challenged the visitors’ goalkeeper following a corner, but the goal was swiftly ruled out after a VAR review.

However, Hackett’s view of the incident was that the challenge from Van Dijk was insufficient contact to warrant a foul against the goalkeeper, who he felt made an error by failing to catch the ball.

The former official insisted that the goal should have stood, but nevertheless, the questionable refereeing decision did little to take the shine off what was an excellent Liverpool display.