Liverpool look to bounce back from their first Champions League loss of the season in midweek as they visit Brighton in the Premier League at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton could climb as high as 13th ahead of the rest of Saturday’s matches if Newcastle lose to Crystal Palace on Friday evening, whilst Liverpool will go top for at least 28 hours with a win because Tottenham don’t play Chelsea until Sunday teatime.
Team News
Tariq Lamptey is suspended for Brighton after being red carded during last weekend’s win at Aston Villa.
Leandro Trossard (adductor), Davy Propper (illness), Solly March (ankle) and Adam Lallana (groin) could all be fit to feature but
Christian Walton (ankle), Alexis Mac Allister (Coronavirus), Florian Andone and Jose Izquierdo (both knee) remain absent.
Liverpool could be without Thiago Alcantara as the midfielder continues to recover from a knee injury suffered in late October but Jordan Henderson could return from a muscle injury.
Xherdan Shaqiri (muscle), Naby Keita (hamstring) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (calf) are ruled out, alongside Joe Gomez, Virgil Van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who all remain absent with knee injuries.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are winless in six previous Premier League meetings against Liverpool (L6), plus haven’t won in any of last 11 clashes across all competitions (D1, L10).
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five trips to Brighton (W5).
- Mo Salah has scored three goals in Liverpool’s last two trips to Brighton.
- Pascal Gross is the only Brighton player to have made more than one assist so far this season, having assisted in two of the Seagulls’ 13 goals in nine matches in this season.
- Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson has produced 76 crosses which is a league-high after nine games this season.
Prediction
After comfortably battering Leicester last weekend with a weakened team, Liverpool looked out of sorts against Atalanta in midweek because their man-marking was unusually sloppy with the Italians easily ripping their defence open just from crosses whipped in on the flanks.
Brighton meanwhile were absolutely solid in their gameplay at Villa but I would of liked to have seen them take their chances better and particularly from Neal Maupay, although Liverpool will be tougher opposition so expect a more defense minded style here though.
Finishing chances will be key for Brighton though if they are to get a result but given their poor form in this fixture, it is going to take another uncharacteristic outing from Liverpool to stop another Reds’ win here.
Prediction: Brighton 0-3 Liverpool
Result: Brighton 1-1 Liverpool