Liverpool will host Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Saturday, looking to make it two wins in a row against the Seagulls.
Liverpool managed to pick up a 3-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this week in the EFL Cup, and it remains to be seen whether they can pick up all three points when they host the Seagulls at Anfield on Saturday afternoon. On paper, the Reds are the better team, and they are in impressive run of form as well.
Arne Slot’s men have picked up five wins and a draw in their last six matches across all competitions. They will be full of confidence heading into this game. On the other hand, Brighton & Hove Albion are unbeaten in four of their last six matches in all competitions.
The Seagulls will look to make life difficult for the opposition here and improve on their midweek performance. They will look to pull off an upset at Anfield this week. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without Harvey Elliott, who misses out with a foot injury. Alisson Becker has a hamstring issue, while Federico Chiesa and Conor Bradley will miss out with knocks. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota has an abdominal injury.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Brighton & Hove Albion, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add creativity and control to the side from the deep. They will look to keep things compact defensively as well from the double pivot.
Dominik Szoboszlai will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third, reprising the central attacking midfield role. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add pace, flair and goals from the flanks, with Darwin Nunez leading the line for Liverpool against Brighton.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Brighton & Hove Albion
The visitors have multiple injury issues to contend with. They will be without Matt O’Riley due to an ankle injury. Joao Pedro misses out with an ankle injury, James Milner is still recovering from his thigh injury, Adam Webster has a similar problem, Solly March has a knee injury, Yankuba Minteh has a groin strain, Jack Hinshelwood has a muscle problem, and Lewis Dunk misses out with a calf injury.
Brighton & Hove Albion are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Liverpool, with Bart Verbruggen in goal. Joel Veltman and Pervis Estupinan will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact defensively and help out during counter-attacking situations. Jan Paul van Hecke will start in the central defensive pairing alongside Igor Julio.
Mats Wieffer and Carlos Baleba will start in the midfield double pivot. They will look to protect the back four and break up the opposition’s attacking moves. Julio Enciso will reprise the no. 10 role, and he will look to link up with his teammates and create goalscoring opportunities. Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma will start in the wide areas, with Danny Welbeck leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Julio, van Hecke, Estupinan; Wieffer, Baleba; Adingra, Enciso, Mitoma; Welbeck
Key Stats
- Liverpool have picked up five wins and a draw from the last six matches in all competitions.
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in 11 of their last 13 matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool are undefeated in 12 of their last 13 matches in the Premier League.
- 24 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.
- Brighton & Hove Albion have picked up just two wins from their last six matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian international has been in impressive form for Liverpool this season, and he is our key player to watch out for. Salah will look to help create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and get on the scoresheet himself.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
These two sides have played each other just a few days ago, and this will be another close contest. Liverpool are certainly the better team here, but Brighton & Hove Albion will look to make life difficult for them.
The away side are likely to put up a fight here, and Liverpool will have to work hard in order to grind out a win. A narrow home win is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Arne Slot and his charges.
