Liverpool will host Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Sunday, looking to continue their title charge this weekend.
Liverpool are currently in second place ahead of the game against Brighton & Hove Albion, and they cannot afford to draw points at this stage of the season. The Reds are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches, and they will be the favourites heading into this game.
Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion are eighth in the league table, and they have been quite inconsistent in recent weeks. The Seagulls have picked up just three wins from their last six league outings, and they will need to improve in order to pull off an upset at Anfield.
Brighton managed to pick up a draw against Liverpool earlier in the season, and they will look to grind something out of this contest as well. The visitors have enjoyed impressive form against Liverpool in recent years, and they are unbeaten in their last four meetings against the Merseyside outfit.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, and Stefan Bajcetic are ruled out for the season with long-term injuries. Alisson Becker misses out with a thigh injury, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota will be unavailable due to their respective knee injuries, and Andrew Robertson is expected to return next week.
Liverpool will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez will be deployed as the full-backs, and the two players will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start at the heart of the defence alongside Virgil van Dijk.
As for the midfield unit, Wataru Endo will start as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to break up opposition attacks. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister will add creativity and control to the side. Finally, Darwin Nunez will lead the line for Liverpool against Brighton, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Brighton & Hove Albion
Solly March misses out with a long-term thigh injury, while Kaoru Mitoma is sidelined with a back injury. Meanwhile, Jack Hinshelwood misses out with an ankle issue.
The visitors will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Tariq Lamptey and Pervis Estupinan in the full-back positions. They will look to keep things compact defensively and help out during transitions. Jan Paul van Hecke will start in the central defensive partnership alongside Lewis Dunk. Bart Verbruggen will be deployed as the goalkeeper here.
As for the midfield unit, Pascal Gross will start alongside Billy Gilmour in the double pivot. The two players will look to protect the central defenders and break down opposition attacks.
Simon Adingra and Ansu Fati will start in the wide areas, and the two players will look to hit Liverpool on the break with their pace and flair. Danny Welbeck will lead the line for Brighton against Liverpool, with Facundo Buonanotte behind him in the attacking midfield role.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Lamptey, van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Gross, Gilmour; Adingra, Buonanotte, Fati; Welbeck
Key Starts
- Liverpool are undefeated in 20 of their last 21 matches in the Premier League.
- Brighton have scored at least two goals in their last four matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
- 22 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
- Four of the last six meetings between these two teams have seen both sides get on the score sheet.
- Liverpool have scored 19 goals in the last six outing is across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The 31-year-old has been in phenomenal form for Liverpool this season, scoring 15 goals and picking up nine assists in 22 Premier League appearances. He will look to influence the game in the final third with his creativity and goal scoring ability. The Egyptian international is our key player to watch out for, and Liverpool will need him to step up to grind out all three points.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Both teams will be desperate for a win here, and this is likely to be a hard-fought battle. Brighton & Hove Albion have been excellent against Liverpool in the recent meetings, and they will look to make life difficult for the home team once again.
However, the Seagulls are lacking sharpness in the attack because of the crippling injury problems. Liverpool will be the favourites heading into the game, and they should be able to grind out a narrow win. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Jurgen Klopp and his charges.
