Liverpool have received an injury boost ahead of facing Brighton.

Midfield duo James Milner and Naby Keita were both forced off injured in the Reds' sensational 5-0 win over bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Milner sustained a hamstring injury in the first half while Keita, whose Liverpool career has been blighted by injury setbacks, was stretchered off after a horror two-footed tackle by Paul Pogba.

But it appears Keita's injury isn't as bad as first feared as he only suffered bruising from Pogba's red-card lunge.

"I think we should speak about VAR. It's a major advantage to protect players," Liverpool assistant boss Pep Lijnders said ahead of Liverpool's last-16 Carabao Cup clash with Preston on Wednesday night.

"We sometimes discuss and whine about referees and VAR, but that's why it's there.

"To protect players. Luckily his foot was not on the ground - it was just a bruise."