Joe Gomez has handed Liverpool a fresh injury concern after being forced off with an injury during the first half of Liverpool's game against Brighton.

The England defender lined up at right-back for the Premier League meeting with the Seagulls but lasted less than half an hour, with Mohamed Salah coming on in his place.

Gomez has struggled with injuries throughout his career, and the last year has seen him suffer a number of problems, with a hamstring problem sidelining him for the second half of last season.

Gomez's withdrawal forced Dominik Szoboszlai back to right-back, due to the a lack of suitable options on the Liverpool bench to replace the 28-year-old.

Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined with a hamstring problem, while Conor Bradley was suspended for the game against Brighton after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Leeds last weekend.

Young center-back Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, while Wataru Endo, another possible option to play in defense, is out with an ankle injury.

Liverpool's defensive injury situation meant that the only genuine defenders named on the bench against Brighton were Andy Robertson, Wellity Lucky and Calvin Ramsay.

Gomez came in for praise from Arne Slot earlier this month after returning to the team for the victory over West Ham.

Slot said that the defender possessed the rare quality of being able to play at a high level regardless of how long he had been sidelined for.

“It’s a skillset he has,” Slot said in a press conference. “After a long time not playing you can play him again and he just performs as he did before that.

“That’s something that’s not easy, because I’ve worked with more than a few players that, after a certain amount of time without playing, it’s difficult to get to a certain standard again. So it’s definitely one of his skillsets.”

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Mohamed Salah started on the bench for Liverpool's clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, but it didn't take long for Arne Slot to deploy him when Joe Gomez picked up a first-half injury

Mohamed Salah started on the bench for Liverpool's clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, but it didn't take long for Arne Slot to deploy him when Joe Gomez picked up a first-half injury

The team sheets are in at Anfield. Arne Slot met with Mohamed Salah yesterday and the pair appear to have patched things up—at least enough for the Egyptian King to return to the matchday squad.

However, the big news is that Salah starts on the bench.

Hugo Ekitiké leads the line as the lone striker, with Alexander Isak also dropping to the bench due to a minor knock.

H2: Liverpool Confirmed Lineup vs Brighton

Starting XI:

• GK: Alisson
• DEF: Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez
• MID: Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch
• FWD: Ekitiké

H2: The Substitutes Bench

Mamardashvili, Woodman, Isak, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Lucky.

Updated injury list.

H2: Brighton Confirmed Starting XI

Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Gruda, Gomez, Rutter.

H2: Rapid Reaction: Slot's Tactical Shift

Arne Slot has made a bold call, shifting to a 3-man midfield rather than the "box" midfield (4 players) he used to dismantle Inter Milan.

• The Surprise: Milos Kerkez starts at left-back over Andy Robertson, offering more pace against Brighton's wingers.
• The Attack: With Isak carrying a knock, the pressure is on Hugo Ekitiké to hold up the ball and bring the midfield runners (Szoboszlai and Jones) into play.

H2: Where to Watch

• Kickoff: Saturday, 3 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EST
• UK TV: No Broadcast Available Due To Embargo
• US TV: Peacock / Fubo
• Live Stream: Peacock
• Location  Anfield

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Mohamed Salah’s return to Liverpool’s squad against Brighton drew immediate reactions from supporters, with fans quickly making their feelings known about the forward’s situation.

Last week, Salah claimed he had no relationship with Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot, making several explosive remarks in a bombshell interview following the 3-3 draw at Leeds United.

Speaking to reporters after watching the match from the bench at Elland Road, he accused the club of breaking promises made when he signed a new contract and described the situation as “not acceptable.”

His comments subsequently led to his omission from the squad for Liverpool’s midweek trip to face Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Salah returned to the squad for Saturday’s clash against Brighton after holding talks with Slot at the AXA Training Centre on Friday, though the details of their discussions remain unclear.

The 33-year-old didn't return to the starting XI but remained on the bench for his fourth game. Ahead of the game, Salah received a warm round of applause as he headed down the tunnel after the warm-up and reciprocated the gesture.

Salah received loud cheers and applause after he replaced Joe Gomez who was forced off with an injury after just 25 minutes.

Around this time last year, a banner appeared on the Kop depicting Salah with the words: “FSG. He fires a bow, now give Mo his dough!” By April, Salah was celebrated on a throne inside Anfield to mark his new contract, and just over two weeks later, Liverpool secured the Premier League title.

Fast forward eight months, and the 33-year-old found himself out of the starting XI, embroiled in a public dispute with the club and Slot. In a damning statement regarding his relationship with Slot, Salah replied to a question about how the pair get along behind the scenes. "Yeah, there's no relationship between us," he said. "It was very good relationship and now all of a sudden there is no relationship."

"After what I have done for the club it really hurts," Salah added. "You can imagine, really. After going from home to the club and you don’t know if you are starting.

"I know the club too well, I have been here many years. Tomorrow Carragher is going to go for me again and again and that’s fine."

He was also questioned on whether he regretted signing the new two-year contract earlier this year. "Imagine how bad that I have to answer it, honestly," Salah said. "That hurts, even the question hurts. This club, signing for this club, I will never regret it.

"I thought 'I'm going to renew here and end my career here', but this is not according to the plan, so I'm not regretting signing for the club for sure."

Liverpool.com says: Salah's decision to air his frustrations following a match he didn’t play, in which Liverpool dropped points, left fans divided but the reaction from those at Anfield but the reaction today shows they are firmly behind the Egyptian.

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We asked fans what they thought of the row between the Egyptian star and his manager ahead of today's match

We asked fans what they thought of the row between the Egyptian star and his manager ahead of today's match

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Ian Rush was hospitalised and spent 48 hours in intensive care earlier this week, but the Liverpool icon is thankfully recovering well following treatment

Ian Rush was hospitalised and spent 48 hours in intensive care earlier this week, but the Liverpool icon is thankfully recovering well following treatment

Stephen Dodd and Callum Edwards died suddenly within a year of each other

Stephen Dodd and Callum Edwards died suddenly within a year of each other

Team news confirmed from Anfield as Mohamed Salah starts on the bench and Florian Wirtz returns

Team news confirmed from Anfield as Mohamed Salah starts on the bench and Florian Wirtz returns

After talks with Arne Slot, Mohamed Salah is named on the bench for the visit of Brighton, in what is the Egyptian’s final match before AFCON.

There was plenty of will he or won’t he be involved when it came to Salah after his exclusion in midweek, but talks have resulted in a place in the squad.

With injuries and suspension to consider, Slot has seen his options depleted across each department and has made two changes for Saturday’s 3pm kickoff.

Alisson, for the fifth game in a row, starts in goal behind a back four with one change from midweek.

Milos Kerkez replaces Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez is retained for the suspended Conor Bradley and starts alongside Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister all start for the second game in a row.

Florian Wirtz, meanwhile, returns to the XI after a cameo last time out, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike retained.

Liverpool: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike

Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Lucky, Robertson, Ramsay, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Salah, Isak

How to Watch Liverpool vs. Brighton in the UK

Liverpool vs. Brighton is not being broadcast live in the UK, but you can keep up to date with events at Anfield through This Is Anfield’s liveblog.

Live audio commentary of Liverpool vs. Brighton and a full match replay and highlights will also be available on All Red Video here.

This Is Anfield will also be providing live text commentary throughout on our website and full match reaction and analysis on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android later.

Download free here.

You can follow all of this afternoon’s action and the whole of the 2025/26 season with us by downloading the This is Anfield app for iPhone and Android for free.

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FTFull Time AETAfter Extra Time LIVEThis is a live match. ETExtra Time HTHalf Time

Liverpool vs Brighton and Hove Albion. Premier League.

3:00pm, Saturday 13th December 2025.

Anfield.

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Liverpool have a host of players walking a suspension tightrope ahead of the Premier League cut off, and arguably their best performer this season Dominik Szoboszlai is one yellow card away from a ban

Liverpool have a host of players walking a suspension tightrope ahead of the Premier League cut off, and arguably their best performer this season Dominik Szoboszlai is one yellow card away from a ban

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a return to management at Real Madrid

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a return to management at Real Madrid