Liverpool v Brighton – Premier League Preview

Liverpool v Brighton – Premier League Preview

Date – 2nd November 2024
Venue – Anfield
Kick off – 15.00hrs

With Halloween now behind us and the midweek EFL Cup battle between these two sides in the rear-view mirror, attentions must now turn to their upcoming battle in the Premier League. A switch of locations will see Brighton follow Liverpool all the way back to Merseyside, as they undertake game-week ten in this season enthralling campaign. The League Cup 4th round tie at the American Express Stadium ended with the mighty reds scraping through with a deserved 2-3 away win, however, both teams will be much changed by Saturday afternoon and the contest will be even more fierce.

Brighton Availability

In terms of availability, Adam Webster, Matthew O’Riley, Solomon March, and the former beloved Liverpool asset, James Milner, are all ruled out for the home team, whereas the quartet of Yankuba Minteh, Lewis Dunk, Joao Pedro, and Jack Hinshelwood, face late fitness tests.

Regarding early season form, the recent midweek EFL Cup tie ended with Liverpool prevailing with a 2-3 victory, following a disappointing 2-2 home draw which was recorded against a struggling Wolves side at the weekend. Those pair of disheartening results came after a solid 0-1 away win against Newcastle the weekend prior. A brilliant 3-2 home win against Tottenham came just before the international break. Following nine games played in the 2024/25 Premier League, the Seagulls reside a wonderful sixth place in the current standings, having accrued sixteen-points so far.

A predicted line up for the home team is listed below, in a 4-4-2 formation. The new manager of the south coast club, Fabian Hürzeler, generally likes a 4-4-2 and will continue with this endeavour.

GK – Bart Verbruggen
RB – Joël Veltman
RCB – Jan Paul van Hecke
LCB – Igor Julio
LB – Pervis Estupiñán
CM – Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba
CM – Yasin Ayari
LW – Kaoru Mitoma
RW – Yankuba Minteh
CF – Joao Pedro
CF – Georginio Rutter

The Liverpool Availability

In terms of injures, Harvey Elliott remains sidelined until some point in November as he continued to rehabilitate from a fractured foot, whereas Federico Chiesa will be out for an undetermined period with ongoing complaints and a load building process. Alisson Becker sustained a hamstring strain against Crystal Palace, which could keep him out until early December, whereas Diogo Jota is sidelined (with a suspected cracked rib) until after the next international break.

Regarding recent form, the midweek saw Arne Slot successfully enter the next round of the EFL Cup with a 2-3 win away to Brighton. Prior to the weekend 2-2 draw at Arsenal, the reds travelled to Germany last midweek to overcome an exciting RB Leipzig team at the Red Bull Arena (by a 0-1 margin), on the back of a solid 2-1 victory at home to Chelsea last Sunday. The reds are currently second in Premier League after garnering a tremendous 22-points from their nine games played.

Below is the team I believe the Dutch boss, Arne Slot, will start for this difficult home encounter. The team will be much changed from that which travelled to the south coast on Wednesday, with many key assets coming back into the side after a much-needed break.

GK – Caoimhin Kelleher
RB – Trent Alexander Arnold
RCB – Ibrahima Konaté
LCB – Virgil van Dijk (c)
LB – Kostas Tsimikas
CM – Alexis Mac Allister
ACM – Dominik Szoboszlai
CM – Ryan Gravenberch
RF – Mohamed Salah
CF – Darwin Núñez
LF – Cody Gakpo

How Will This Contest Play Out

Liverpool will have to be far more focused in their defensive third than against Arsenal last week, as well Brighton in the week. After Curtis Jones played the full quota of minutes against both those sides, I can see Dominik Szoboszlai being drafted in from the start to add more power and chaos. The chosen backline of the away side will be far more consistent in possession than the most recent meeting (on Wednesday), however, the hosts front three of Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez, and Mohamed Salah, should have enough guile and creativity to overcome. The wingmen of the travelling party, Kaoru Mitoma, and Yankuba Minteh, will be the biggest on ball threats to Liverpool’s hopes of winning, whereas the returning centre forward, Joao Pedro, will be a huge danger if passed fit to play.

Player to watch – Darwin Núñez

Score Prediction – Liverpool 2 – 0 Brighton

Steven Smith