Liverpool v. Brighton: Can the Seagulls continue their flying start?

Liverpool will aim to follow up their 4-3 win over Villarreal in the Champions League, with a victory over high-flying Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday. The visitors will travel to Anfield having won their last four league games, and sitting third in the table, two places above their hosts. Both sides’ starts to the season suggest this could be a crucial match in the race for European football. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said, “I want to win games. Home, away, we need points wherever we can get them.”

Form Guide

Liverpool have won their last three games in all competitions, since a 3-0 loss at home to Manchester City. They are without a win at home in the league after draws with Nottingham Forest and Fulham, before their loss to City.

In contrast, Brighton have won their last four league games by a combined score line of 15-0 and have both the best attack in terms of most goals scored, and joint-best defence in the league in terms of fewest goals conceded. Fabian Hurzeler’s side are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions, since a 4-3 defeat at Chelsea in August.

Head-to-Head

Liverpool have won the last four competitive games between these sides at Anfield, including a 2-0 win in this fixture last season, courtesy of a brace from French striker Hugo Ekitike. The home side also knocked Saturday’s visitors out of last season’s FA Cup, with a 3-0 win in February. However Brighton did beat the reds 2-1 at the AMEX Stadium in March.

Team News

Liverpool will be without first choice right-back Jeremie Frimpong due to a muscle injury.

This deepens the issue created by the long-term absence of Frimpong’s fellow right-back Conor Bradley, following knee surgery. Central midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is also likely to miss out, with Iraola telling fans that they “have to be a bit patient until he recovers fully.”

Ekitike is also still recovering from a ruptured achilles.

Fabian Hurzeler said that his side “seem to be in a good place”, as Brighton continue to play without strikers Evan Ferguson and Stefanos Tzimas due to long-term injuries.

Right-wingers Yakuba Minteh, Zadok Johanna, and Femi Azeez also remain fitness concerns, with central midfielder Diego Gomez likely to be deployed in a wider role, in their absence.

Predicted Starting 11s:

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson, Milos Kerkez, Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet, Ronald Araujo, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis MacAllister, Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz, Victor Munoz, Alexander Isak.

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen, Olivier Boscagli, Lewis Dunk, Luka Vuskovic, Ferdi Kadioglu, Chema Andres, Pascal Groß, Maxim De Cuyper, Yasin Ayari, Diego Gomez, Charalampos Kostoulas.

Match Prediction

Iraola will be desperate for a first home win in the league as Liverpool manager but will be encouraged by the tenacity his side showed against Villarreal. Brighton have had some impressive results this season but will surely begin to suffer from a long injury list, and the demands of European football.

Liverpool 2-2 Brighton