Liverpool boosted by Bradley Barcola availability but Dominik Szoboszlai misses Brighton game

Bradley Barcola is fit to face Brighton at Anfield on Sunday, but Liverpool will be without Dominik Szoboszlai as they continue a demanding schedule of nine matches in 28 days across three competitions.

Head coach Andoni Iraola said Barcola returned to full training on Friday after sitting out Thursday’s session.

“Bradley has trained today normally. He’s fine with no problem,” said Iraola. “It was just a matter of sometimes you have to deal with the loads and we consider sometimes they have to stay inside. But he’s fine.”

Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz were both injured during last weekend’s win over Brentford and consequently missed the midweek victory against Villarreal.

Szoboszlai has since resumed individual outdoor training, but will not be involved against Brighton.

“He’s in a good place. Dom is already training outside alone and is going to train with the group, but he’s not ready for this one,” Iraola said.

Munoz remains a doubt after completing the Brentford match despite suffering a knock. He has continued to feel pain and will undergo a late assessment.

“I don’t know if he’s going to arrive. I think it’s going to be difficult but I really don’t know,” Iraola added.

Liverpool will be able to call on Ryan Gravenberch again after the midfielder completed a one-match Premier League suspension. Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain unavailable because of longer-term injuries.

Sunday’s fixture is Liverpool’s fifth game in a sequence of nine matches being played over 28 days. Iraola said the frequency of the games made managing player workloads particularly important.

“We are playing basically every three or four days,” he said. “Sometimes the players are tired or there is more risk involved, and we are deciding to give more rest or to use more fresh legs.”

He expects to rotate his side again during the fixtures against Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal, and said the squad had responded positively to the changes made so far.

Brighton fitness update

Brighton could have Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer back soon, with both players due to train with the squad on Saturday. Head coach Fabian Hurzeler will then decide whether either can be selected at Anfield.

“There is an option. Especially with Minteh, there might be an option. But definitely next week,” Hurzeler said.

“If they are not available for this game, then I am quite convinced we will see them back in the squad next week for the Manchester City games.”

Pascal Struijk will also be checked after missing Brighton’s previous two matches. Hurzeler said the defender’s injury was not serious, but stressed that returning too early could worsen it.

“It is something that can get bigger if you risk it too early,” he said. “We have so many games and we have to take care of the health of the players. We have to make wise decisions.”

Diego Gomez and Maxim De Cuyper were rested for Thursday’s game against FK Jablonec, while goalkeeper Jason Steele missed the match in the Czech Republic because of illness.

Brighton are also expected to be without Femi Azeez, Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma, Stefanos Tzimas and Zadok Yohanna for the visit to Anfield.