Liverpool will go head to head against Brighton on Saturday, 14 January 2023, at the Falmer Stadium in the Premier League.
The Seagulls know how to drag the game when it comes to big Premier League opponents with Roberto De Zerbi picking from where Graham Potter stopped.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be under immense pressure to deliver results after the team hit series of goosebumps, turning out abysmal results that have left them miles away from the top-four.
Match Preview
After opening their Premier League campaign with a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford, Brighton can be labeled giant killers in the Premier League, and they have shown depth and quality when taking on big opponents.
Jurgen Klopp knows what is at stake. It is going to be another uphill task for the Reds, who have been struggling this season.
The two teams are separated by just a point difference after 17 games and are placed 6th and 8th on the table.
Liverpool returned after the World Cup break with an opening 3-2 defeat to Premier League rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup. The loss saw the team crash out of the competition.
They later managed a narrow 2-1 win over Leicester City in the Premier League before suffering another post-World Cup defeat to Premier League giant killers Brentford. Thomas Frank’s Bees galvanized on their home advantage to sting the Reds with a 3-1 defeat that saw their Champions League hopes crumble helplessly.
Against Wolves in FA Cup, it was another near-heartbreak for the team. VAR saved the day, ruling out Wolves’ late winner after they settled for a 2-2 draw.
Brighton, on the other hand, picked up from where they left after the World Cup break although suffering a shock EFL Cup exit against Charlton in their first game.
After settling for a barren draw with the League One side, the Seagulls were eliminated via penalties, but they immediately shoved the loss to Charlton and traveled to St Mary’s Stadium to beat Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League.
In their next game at home to Premier League high-flyers Arsenal, the Seagulls suffered a 4-2 defeat in a six-goal thriller.
They played their next two games away from home, beating struggling Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park, before smashing past Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third round away from home.
Brighton is in absolutely better shape to take on Liverpool going into the game. Both teams have recorded one win apiece in their last five matches between them.
Team News
Leandro Trossard missed the FA Cup win over Middlesbrough with a slight injury, while Adam Webster and Danny Welbeck have also been suffering and are also major doubts for the game.
Meanwhile, Lallana, Coldwill, and Gilmour are expected to start for the Seagulls.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will miss Virgil van Dijk, who is now on Liverpool’s injury list with James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Luiz Diaz, and Diogo Jota, all sidelined.
Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez are expected to start, while new signing from PSV Eindhoven Gody Gakpo, could make his Premier League debut
Brighton probable starting lineup: Sanchez; Veltman, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan; Gilmour, Gross; March, Lallana, Mitoma; Ferguson
Liverpool probable starting lineup: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Prediction
As the Champions League race shapes up, Jurgen Klopp will hope to restore the confidence of the fans in his aged squad.
The Reds will look to secure all three points against the Seagulls, but it will be a tough task. Both teams boast of great attacking prowess. Goals may likely rain in the game, and the match will likely end in a 2-2 draw.
