Which Liverpool stars are unavailable for Jurgen Klopp for Brighton match?

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp denies their FA Cup exit has given them an advantage over Premier League title rivals Manchester City and Tottenham.

Defeat to Wolves on Monday left the league leaders with a run of five matches – against Brighton, Crystal Palace, Leicester, West Ham and Bournemouth – before the Champions League last-16 encounter with Bayern Munich in February.

By comparison, City and Spurs are both still in four competitions and have Carabao Cup semi-final second legs and FA Cup fourth-round ties to play within that time.

But Klopp said: “There’s no advantage, we will see it.

“When does the Champions League start? In February? It’s not even a month and then we talk again completely differently. It’s just the situation.

“Other teams played more games, they are still in competitions, but they can deal with it, you can see it.

“We could deal with it as well with the right number of players, that’s how it is, but that’s all. There’s no advantage, we have to use the time.

“I would love to still be in these competitions but we are not in. I know Pep (Guardiola) said already that he prefers to be in four competitions.”

Liverpool team news vs Brighton

Virgil van Dijk will return for Liverpool after missing Monday’s FA Cup defeat at Wolves, but the Reds remain short of centre-back options.

Dejan Lovren is out with a hamstring injury and Joe Gomez is still unavailable, so Fabinho could again play in central defence.

Joel Matip has returned to training following a fractured collarbone and will be monitored, as will midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has been nursing a calf issue.

A host of key players rested against Wolves are expected to be recalled to the starting line-up.

source: express.co.uk