Match Preview
Liverpool head into their ultimate Premier League recreation earlier than Mohamed Salah departs for the Africa Cup of Nations with the scenario surrounding him nonetheless casting a shadow over occasions on the pitch.
The Reds prevailed 1-0 against Inter Milan within the Champions League on Tuesday amid the continued fallout from Salah’s feedback after their 3-3 draw at Leeds United final Saturday.
Salah, whose omission from the sport at Elland Highway marked the third successive match through which he had been left on the bench, stated he had been “thrown beneath the bus” and claimed he not had a relationship with supervisor Arne Slot.
Liverpool have been impressively resolute in his absence at San Siro and claimed all three factors because of Dominik Szoboszlai’s contentious late penalty.
However the Reds haven’t claimed back-to-back wins since November 4, after they adopted up a victory over Aston Villa by beating Actual Madrid within the Champions League.
Consistency is what has eluded Liverpool so far, and so they face a Brighton facet that has had comparable points.
Brighton adopted up successive wins over Brentford and Nottingham Forest with defeat to Villa in a seven-goal thriller and a 1-1 residence draw with West Ham.
The Seagulls are forward of Liverpool on objective distinction in what’s an extremely tight Premier League table, each groups having collected 23 factors.
Georginio Rutter salvaged a degree for Brighton towards the relegation-threatened Hammers and, whereas the journey to Anfield is daunting, he’s assured Fabian Hürzeler’s facet can discover momentum over the course of a packed schedule over the Festive interval.
“After all, we’ve got some essential video games,” Rutter advised Brighton’s official web site.
“If we take as many factors as doable it may be good for the longer term and possibly play Europe, however we’ve got to take it recreation by recreation, it’s extra essential. If we predict already about Europe, you could be a bit confused. We’ve to take it recreation by recreation.
“We’ve to be extra constant. That may be a bit the issue, however we’ve got to work on it. I imagine in my workforce, so we’re going to do higher. I don’t have doubts about this.”
Group information for Liverpool v Brighton
After his omission towards Inter, it appears seemingly Salah will once more be omitted.
Fellow ahead Cody Gakpo is ready for a couple of weeks on the sideline with an unspecified damage.
The Reds will hope to get Jeremie Frimpong again from a hamstring damage, whereas Federico Chiesa might return after lacking the win over Inter by sickness.
Solly March is again in coaching for Brighton following a protracted damage lay-off however is unlikely to function.
Centre-back Adam Webster is Brighton’s solely different absentee with a knee ligament damage that can maintain him out for the remainder of the season.
Predicted line-ups for Liverpool v Brighton
Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Gakpo, Ekitike.
Brighton: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper, Baleba, Gomez, Minteh, Rutter, Kadioglu, Welbeck.
watch Liverpool v Brighton: TV and on-line streams
Liverpool v Brighton kicks off at 3pm UK time on Saturday. It won’t be broadcast reside within the UK.
Stats for Liverpool v Brighton
- Liverpool have misplaced simply certainly one of their eight Premier League residence matches towards Brighton (W5 D2).
- Brighton beat Liverpool 3-2 of their final assembly in Might however have by no means earlier than crushed the Reds in consecutive league matches.
- Liverpool have simply 23 factors (W7 D2 L6) and have conceded 24 targets within the Premier League this season, the worst begin by a reigning champion in each classes after 15 video games since Leicester Metropolis in 2016-17 (16 factors, 26 conceded).
- Brighton have stored a clear sheet in every of their final two away Premier League matches – the Seagulls haven’t stored three in a row since between March and July 2020.
- Liverpool have conceded 48 targets in 35 Premier League video games in 2025 – solely twice earlier than have they allowed 50+ targets in a 12 months within the competitors, doing so in 2012 (51) and 2014 (52).
- Brighton are winless of their final eight Premier League matches in December (D5 L3) – supervisor Fabian Hürzeler has received a match in every of the opposite 9 months through which he has taken cost with the Seagulls.
Prediction for Liverpool v Brighton
Liverpool
2
–
2
Brighton
Liverpool have been a lot improved in midweek, however it’s arduous to belief them constantly this season. One other setback within the league could be no shock.
