Brighton and Liverpool are both set to be without some first-team stars for the Carabao Cup clash on Wednesday night
Brighton & Hove Albion have been dealt a major blow ahead of their Carabao Cup tie with Liverpool, with captain Lewis Dunk set to miss Wednesday night’s clash at the Amex. The Reds will travel to the South Coast in midweek to continue their Carabao Cup defence, following a 5-1 victory over West Ham United in the third round.
It is the first of two meetings between the two sides this week, with Brighton set to visit Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday. And head coach Fabian Hurzeler has confirmed the Seagulls will be without their skipper for at least one of those games after he sustained a calf injury in the warm-up ahead of his team’s 2-2 draw with Wolves last Saturday.
“It’s a small muscle issue but he is a great healer and we have to go day for day,” the German said in his pre-match press conference. “He is keen to come back and it’s possible (to be back before the international break).
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“We have to see. He is our captain he has great experience. He knows what he has to do against big opponents. But Igor (Julio) has made a great impact and made a great game. I’m really happy we have such defenders but if Lewis misses games it is not easy to replace him. He is our leader.”
Brighton will also be without fellow defender Adam Webster on Wednesday night as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue, while Jan Paul van Hecke has only just returned following a groin injury. On the plus side for the Seagulls, midfielder Jack Hinshelwood is set to be available again after missing the Wolves draw with a “minor issue” and Yankuba Minteh could also be an option having trained with the group this week.
Hurzeler also confirmed striker Danny Welbeck could feature despite picking up a back injury against Newcastle earlier this month, although Brazil forward Joao Pedro remains a doubt.
Liverpool are also set to be without their fair share of first-team stars, with Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott both expected to be sidelined until after the November international break. Arne Slot also confirmed on Tuesday that Federico Chiesa and Alisson Becker remain unavailable, though the Reds could be boosted by the return of Conor Bradley on Wednesday night.
