3 Liverpool youngsters who could feature in Carabao Cup clash with Brighton

Liverpool travel to Brighton for Carabao Cup fourth clash on Wednesday night
Arne Slot expected to rest a number of number first-team players
Pre-season star Trey Nyoni could get minutes
- Fabinho comments on Liverpool's worrying contract situation
- Deals for Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk expire next year
- Alexander-Arnold in particular is heavily linked with Real Madrid transfer
Liverpool progressed to the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening as they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 3-2 at the AMEX Stadium.

An entertaining first half couldn't separate the two much-changed sides but a flurry of second-half strikes ultimately saw Liverpool come out on top.

Cody Gakpo bagged an excellent brace and Luis Diaz also scored as Liverpool held off a late Brighton fightback following goals from Simon Adingra and Tariq Lamptey.

The two sides will lock horns again this Saturday as the Seagulls travel to Anfield in the Premier League.

How the game unfolded

Both sides made sweeping changes to their starting lineups following weekend draws in the Premier League and it was Brighton who forged the first significant opening of the evening. Vitezslav Jaros was tested on his first start for the Reds and did well to smother Lamptey's close-range effort in the 13th minute.

Liverpool dominated the ball for much of the opening stages but had to wait until the half-hour mark for their first high-quality chance. A slick move saw Dominik Szoboszlai's low strike rebuffed by Jason Steele and Diaz was unable to convert his headed rebound after missing the target from ten yards.

Liverpool were quick to slice through Brighton when the opportunity arose and came close to sneaking a lead before the half-time whistle. A marauding run form Andy Robertson eventually culminated in the Scotsman firing a shot at Steele's near-post, but the Brighton goalkeeper matched the effort with a strong right boot.

It took the Reds less than a minute to break the deadlock after the break and it was an absolute stunner from Gakpo that handed them the advantage. The Dutchman latched on to Tyler Morton's pass before cutting inside and driving a spectacular shot into the top corner from an acute angle.

Brighton almost produced an equaliser just three minutes later. Lamptey burst down the right flank and found Adingra in the penalty area, with the Ivorian's header provoking a fantastic fingertip save from Jaros that brushed the Czech goalkeeper's far post.

Szoboszlai missed the chance to double Liverpool's advantage but was bailed out by his teammate Gakpo less than a minute later as the Dutchman secured his brace. The winger robbed Lamptey of possession deep in Brighton territory before driving a venomous strike past Steele at his near post.

The game appeared to be petering out but a Jarell Quansah error let Brighton back into the match. Evan Ferguson intercepted the defender's pass and his tame shot was parried by Jaros, with Adingra reacting quickest and prodding home from close range to reduce the deficit.

However, Liverpool would restore their two-goal advantage through Diaz three minutes later. The Colombian weaved away from several Brighton challenges in the penalty area before firing in off the inside of the post.

Brighton did pull another back in the closing stages as Lamptey's strike deflected off the unfortunate Quansah and trickled beyond Jaros, but the Reds held firm in stoppage time to secure their spot in the quarter-final draw.

Are Slot will get the chance to rotate his Liverpool squad when they travel south to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

The Reds have a sapping schedule to contend with throughout the 2024/25 season and their Dutch manager will undoubtedly be keen to rest some of his key players, with big tests on the horizon both domestically and on the continent.

Liverpool have some promising youngsters coming through and Wednesday evening is a perfect opportunity to blood in some exciting talents. Here are some of the stars Slot could turn to at the AMEX Stadium.