After getting back to winning ways in the Premier League in midweek, Liverpool will be turning their attention to Saturday evening's FA Cup clash with Brighton. Arne Slot will no doubt be keen to make a mark in this year's competition after his side were dumped out by Plymouth Argyle in a fourth-round shock 12 months ago.

It's been a tough season for the defending Premier League champions having stumbled in their pursuit to retain the title. The FA Cup, alongside the Champions League, now offers Liverpool their best hope of capturing silverware this campaign.

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However, Liverpool are having to contend with a brewing injury crisis. Mirror Football takes a look at today's latest Liverpool news.

Van Dijk transfer demand

Liverpool captain Van Dijk has shared his hope that Liverpool can tie Ibrahima Konate to a new contract. The French defender's deal is up this summer with no breakthrough in sight meaning, as it stands, he can leave as a free agent with Real Madrid thought to be interested.

The Dutchman opened up on the "world class" centre-back and insisted he wants to partner in Konate in the heart of Liverpool's defence for a long time to come, however he admitted the situation is in the club's hands.

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"We are friends," Van Dijk said of Konate. "We speak about everything. It’s a process and let’s see what comes out of it. It’s never that easy. We saw with my [contract] situation last year so it’s never that easy that we can just say: 'Let’s get it done'.

"Obviously I want him 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. It was not my decision to leave [my contract] that late but it is what it is. There is always hope [for Konate staying]."

Star may never play for Reds again

Endo's devastating injury against Sunderland could spell the end of his Liverpool career. The 33-year-old suffered a severe injury after landing awkwardly on his ankle.

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The captain of Japan joined Liverpool in 2023 from Stuttgart for £12 million. However, the tough-tackling star is out of contract in 2027 and It's believed that the Premier League champions would entertain offers for the player.

The defensive midfielder was reportedly close to a move to Marseille in 2024. Other teams across Germany and England are also rumoured to be in for him.

Liverpool boss Slot conceded that Endo will be out for an extended period of time, hinting that the injury has brought an abrupt end to the player's season.

"I assume he will be out for a long, long time. What is long, it is difficult to say at this moment but you can hardly believe what this right full-back position brings us this season,” Slot said after the Sunderland game.

It was a cruel twist of fate for Endo with the Japanese star deputising at right back against the Black Cats, an area that has become a problem position for Liverpool this season.

Slot has already had to contend with injuries to first choice right-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley while Dominik Szoboszlai, who has also played in the role, was unavailable for the Sunderland clash through suspension.

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