FA Cup LIVE: News conferences, previews and team news
Live Reporting
Written by Ben Ramsdale, Craig Nelson, Grace Wheeler & Sarah Rendell.
Show
1.
Slot forced into another re-think at right-back
Published at 09:18 GMT
Liverpool v Brighton (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Arne Slot said he had used six different players at right-back this season in his pre-match news conference before Wednesday's win at Sunderland.
He was forced to start with Wataru Endo in that position at the Stadium of Light, but the Japan midfielder was withdrawn after an hour with an injury that looks set to end his season.
"We don't expect a positive outcome," said Slot. "We have to wait and see. We expect not to have him for quite a long time. That is not the first time with our right full-backs. We have accepted this every time. We have to find solutions to keep performing well."
Conor Bradley is already out for the season, while summer signing Jeremie Frimpong is not expected to return from injury in time for this tie.
However, regular stand-in Dominik Szoboszlai returns from a one-match suspension, picked up for his red card against Manchester City, while Joe Gomez is also an option after returning from injury to replace Endo on Wednesday.
Midfielder Curtis Jones has also filled in at right-back this term, while there have been calls for 22-year-old Scottish right-back Calvin Ramsay to be promoted to first-team duties.
2.
Set-piece importance 'has gone through the roof' this season - Slot
Published at 09:14 GMT
Liverpool v Brighton (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot says the current Premier League is so much more focussed on set-pieces than it was last season.
He adds that "it has gone through the roof" in terms of how important it is and says "it is almost impossible to win the league with a set-piece balance like ours."
3.
Can Liverpool avenge last season's fourth round defeat?
Published at 09:10 GMT
Liverpool v Brighton (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Since their victory in the 2022 FA Cup final, Liverpool haven't had the best of luck in the competition.
Twice they have been knocked out at the fourth round stage, including last season by Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle, while they also fell at the quarter final stage to Manchester United in 2024.
Reds boss Arne Slot was criticised in their most recent FA Cup exit against Plymouth for playing a weakened team and not having the cavalry on the bench to change the game should they need it.
Ultimately, that cost them, falling to a 1-0 loss in a flat performance at Home Park.
Liverpool did however have bigger priorities last season as they looked to chase down a 20th league title.
This campaign looks a little different. With retaining the title a near impossibility, you would think getting their hands on another piece of silverware becomes high on the agenda.
4.
Post
Published at 09:08 GMT
Liverpool v Brighton (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is in the building.
He starts by saying he will "make the best possible decision" with regard to squad rotation depending on how the players feel in training today.
We'll bring you full quotes from the Reds boss shortly...
5.
I want 'world-class' Konate to stay - Van Dijk
Published at 09:05 GMT
Liverpool v Brighton (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Here's one question that may be on the agenda for Liverpool boss Arne Slot today...
The contract situation of defender Ibrahima Konate.
Konate's contract is set to expire in the summer and despite a rocky start to the campaign, the Frenchman has returned to his best form in recent weeks.
His central defensive partner, Reds captain Virgil van Dijk, insists he wants the 26-year-old to stay at the club beyond this season.
"It's a process and let's see what comes out of it," Van Dik said after the victory over Sunderland in midweek.
"It's never that easy. We saw with my own situation last year so it's never that easy that we can just say 'let's get it done'.
"Obviously I want him [Konate] to stay. He's an important figure on the pitch. That's what everyone sees but off the pitch as well, he's one of the leaders.
"He's outstanding and in my eyes, a world-class centre back. I can do only so much but it's in the club's hands, together with his agents and himself so let's see what comes out of it but I have no influence otherwise on that."
6.
Fourth-round fixtures
Published at 09:00 GMT
All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated
FA Cup
Friday, 13 February
- Hull City v Chelsea (19:45)
- Wrexham v Ipswich (19:45)
Saturday, 14 February
- Burton Albion v West Ham (12:15)
- Burnley v Mansfield
- Man City v Salford City
- Norwich v West Brom
- Port Vale v Bristol City
- Southampton v Leicester
- Aston Villa v Newcastle (17:45)
- Liverpool v Brighton (20:00)
Sunday, 15 February
- Birmingham City v Leeds (12:00)
- Grimsby v Wolves (13:30)
- Oxford Utd v Sunderland (14:00)
- Stoke v Fulham (14:00)
- Arsenal v Wigan (16:30)
Monday, 16 February
- Macclesfield v Brentford (19:30)
7.
Friday's FA Cup news conferences
Published at 08:57 GMT
All times in GMT
FA Cup
No Premier League action to preview this weekend but we've still got a whole host of news conferences to bring you before the FA Cup fourth round gets under way.
Ten in total on the agenda with the possibility of more to be added as we go.
Friday's news conferences:
- Arne Slot (09:00)
- Eddie Howe (09:30)
- Mikel Arteta (12:00)
- Pep Guardiola (12:30)
- Rob Edwards (13:00)
- Marco Silva (13:30)
- Regis le Bris (13:30)
- Scott Parker (13:30)
- Unai Emery (14:00)
- Daniel Farke (14:15)
8.
Hello!
Published at 08:44 GMT
Good morning. Happy Friday.
Welcome along to today's live page. Not a managerial sacking one today - yet.
Hopefully we can have a bit more fun with it today as we look ahead to this weekend's FA Cup action.
We've got 10 Premier League managers delivering news conferences throughout the day and we'll be bringing you updates from them all as we go.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is up first in the next 15 minutes or so, which means we best crack on and get straight into it.
