Liverpool will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways when they lock horns with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League this weekend.
After an exciting round of fixtures in the Champions League and Europa League, domestic competitions take the centre stage once again as we enter the weekend. And reigning Premier League champions Liverpool will be in action on Saturday afternoon as they clash against Brighton & Hove Albion in matchweek 10.
Brighton come into the game on the back of a spirited 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, following which they are 16th in the league table. With that result, Graham Potter’s men snapped a seven-game winless run across all competitions and will be looking to build upon that when the champions come visiting.
For Liverpool, it has been a difficult start to the season, what with a host of key players getting injured. However, Jurgen Klopp’s brigade has soldiered on and are sitting second in the table, following a stunning display against Leicester City last weekend. But the midweek defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League will have dampened their spirits somewhat heading into Saturday’s contest.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Liverpool run out 3-1 victors with Mohamed Salah scoring on either side of a Jordan Henderson strike, while Leandro Trossard netted the only goal for the Seagulls. And ahead of their latest meeting this weekend at the Amex Stadium, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both the teams.
Team News & Tactics
Brighton & Hove Albion
Tariq Lamptey, who has been one of the highlights of the season for Brighton, misses out due to suspension after getting sent off against Aston Villa. Apart from him, the Seagulls will also be without Florin Andone, Jose Izquierdo and Alexis MacAllister, who has tested positive for coronavirus.
Potter will be hoping to have both Davy Propper and Leandro Trossard back for the game after they have recovered from their respective problems. Former Liverpool man Adam Lallana is a major doubt though, while Solly March will undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability.
Mat Ryan should start between the sticks for the hosts, shielded by the three-man defensive unit of Ben White, captain Lewis Dunk and Dan Burn. With Lamptey out, summer signing Joel Veltman could step in at right wing-back for Brighton and he will have a tough time dealing with the threat of Andrew Robertson.
March, if fit, should occupy the left wing-back slot and look to provide width moving forward for Brighton. The midfield partnership of Yves Bissouma and the returning Propper will be key in providing additional security to the hosts’ defence.
Danny Welbeck, who scored his first goal for Brighton last weekend, should start up top alongside Neal Maupay. The duo can cause plenty of problems to the Liverpool defence with their pace and movement. Operating just off of them in the final third should be the fit-again Trossard.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Ryan; White, Dunk, Burn; Veltman, Propper, Bissouma, March; Trossard; Maupay, Welbeck
Liverpool
Liverpool continue to be plagued with a number of injury issues as Klopp will have to make do without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. In addition, the likes of Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara are doubts but there could be some positive news with captain Jordan Henderson returning to training.
There could be a few changes to the side that started in midweek against Atalanta. Alisson Becker, though, will continue in goal, with the team likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of the Brazilian shot-stopper.
James Milner, who started in midfield last time out, is likely to be reinstated to the right-back slot – a position in which he impressed against Leicester City. Joel Matip ought to partner up with Fabinho, who was rested in midweek, at the heart of the Liverpool defence with Andrew Robertson taking up the left-back slot.
Curtis Jones has been quite impressive this season and is likely to get another go in the middle of the park on Saturday with Henderson likely to be eased back into action. The Liverpool youngster should partner Georginio Wijnaldum in the double pivot at the Amex Stadium.
The potential switch in formation would mean Roberto Firmino slots in as the No. 10 for Liverpool, flanked by the dynamic duo of Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane. Spearheading the attack for the champions should be none other than Mohamed Salah.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Milner, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Jones, Wijnaldum; Jota, Firmino, Mane; Salah
Betting Odds
Favourable Tips
- Liverpool to win @ 1.57
Hot Ones
- Diogo Jota to score two or more @ 7.00
Key Stats
- Liverpool have won each of their last nine meetings with Brighton & Hove Albion in all competitions, netting 27 goals in the process, while letting in just seven.
- Brighton & Hove Albion have ever won a top-flight home game against Liverpool (D3 L4), losing all three in the Premier League by an aggregate score of 2-9.
- Liverpool are without a win in their last three Premier League away matches (D2 L1). They last went four without a win on the road between January and March 2017 (5 games).
- Brighton have never won against reigning top-flight champions in their 14 previous attempts (D2 L12). They have lost all their six such games in the Premier League.
- Only Chelsea (22) have scored more Premier League goals than Liverpool (21) this season. The Reds are the only team to score in every game so far this term.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The 28-year-old Egyptian international did not have the best of games in the Champions League in midweek and will be aiming to make amends when Liverpool make the trip to Brighton. It bodes well for the Reds that Salah boasts an impressive record against the Seagulls, having been directly involved in eight goals in six league games (5 goals, 1 assist).
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Son Heung-min moving past him in the Premier League Golden Boot race, Salah will be eager to catch up with them. Expect the Liverpool superstar to add to his tally of eight league goals for the season on Saturday.
Prediction
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Liverpool
Having fielded a much-changed lineup against Atalanta, Klopp will bring back his regulars to the side on Saturday at the Amex Stadium. Even then, the exertions of midweek are likely to have some effect on the intensity with which Liverpool will play, which could provide Brighton with a few chances.
The Seagulls have played some eye-catching football under Potter but remain vulnerable at the back. And an attacking lineup consisting of Salah, Jota and Mane should be able to capitalise. Thus, The Hard Tackle is predicting a 1-2 win for Liverpool, taking them to the top of the Premier League table, even though it might be temporary.
