Brighton vs Liverpool Prediction

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Brighton vs Liverpool Prediction Match Overview

Following a brief interlude for the FA Cup, Brighton’s return to Premier League action sees the Sussex side host Liverpool at the American Express Community Stadium. Brighton come into this match in mixed form which means that, despite their impressive performances this season which have helped to establish them as the neutral’s favourite this season, they have in actual fact earned just 13 points from their last 10 matches, losing half of them. Since the return to Premier League action following the World Cup, they have continued in this vein, with 3-1 and 4-1 victories over struggling Southampton and Everton respectively bookending a 4-2 home defeat against league leaders Arsenal. Despite transfer rumours swirling around the club following impressive Premier League campaigns from both Leandro Trossard and Alexis Mac Allister, with the latter also enjoying a highly successful World Cup campaign, Brighton will at least be confident that they can trouble a shaky Liverpool defence.

Despite Liverpool’s well-documented struggles this season and a poor performance in a 3-1 away defeat against Brentford last time out, they had won their previous four Premier League fixtures before that, in addition to defeating a formidable Napoli side 2-0 at home. It’s this impressive home form that Liverpool will be looking to build upon here to ensure that they don’t lose further ground in the race for Champions League qualification. They’ve won just twice in eight away matches this season, and this needs to be rectified as soon as possible. Liverpool are 7 points behind both Newcastle and Manchester United but have a game in hand over the Geordies and Manchester United face a difficult Manchester derby this weekend, so a victory here against De Zerbi’s men could be seen as a great opportunity to apply some pressure to the situation. The only teams to take points away from Anfield this season have been Crystal Palace with a draw, a Leeds win and their opponents this time out Brighton when the teams played out a breakneck 3-3 draw.

Brighton vs Liverpool Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Brighton:

Might Not Play: Trossard

Will Not Play: Moder

Liverpool:

Might Not Play: Firmino, Milner
Will Not Play: Arthur, Diaz, Jota, van Dijk

Possible Lineups

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Estupinian, Dunk, Webster, Lamptey; Caicedo, Gross; Mitoma, Lallana, March; Ferguson

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, Matip, Konate, Alexander-Arnold; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Carvalho, Salah, Gakpo

Brighton vs Liverpool Prediction Analysis

Liverpool’s Defensive Concerns

While this may be construed as shooting fish in a barrel when it comes to analysing the two sides, the fact is that Liverpool have lost the defensive solidity that they were able to call upon last season. The Merseysiders conceded 26 league goals in 2021/2022, and are just four shy of that landmark with less than half of the season played. Defensive talisman Virgil van Dijk’s recent injury will certainly not help in this regard, and Liverpool will be acutely aware that Brighton are averaging almost two goals per game this season. Liverpool have been struggling to cope with teams overrunning them in midfield and getting the ball in behind Liverpool’s high line, particularly in the wide areas, therefore it’s imperative that Fabinho has one of his better games and can supplement a back line which, although not short on talent, will be lacking van Dijk’s leadership here. Henderson will also be important in providing defensive cover for the likes of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson as Liverpool will be looking to get on the front foot themselves.

Brighton’s Expansive Play – Opportunities for Liverpool in Transition?

Perhaps to instil tactical familiarity and to stamp his style of play on the club, De Zerbi has shown that he tends not to deviate from his tactical blueprint, which is to play positive, expansive football regardless of the opponent. As we mentioned earlier, while no doubt exciting to watch and conducive to creating a modern club culture and philosophy, results have been mixed and Brighton are extremely vulnerable to opportunities created in transition, and this is an area in which Liverpool excel regardless of their defensive travails this season. Accordingly, we expect Liverpool to attack directly with at least three players in support of Salah, Gakpo and Elliott, and ultimately Brighton’s ability to gain a positive result here will depend heavily upon their ability to get back quickly and in numbers, which perhaps isn’t a strength associated with this Brighton team. Indeed, the last match between the two teams ended in a 3-3 draw, and it’s difficult to envisage a cagey encounter this time around too.

Beat the Bookmaker Brighton vs Liverpool Prediction

Goals. Lots of them. Liverpool will no doubt be aware that attacking Brighton directly yields the best chance of earning a victory here, as Brighton will not compromise their style of play for any team. In return, it’s highly unlikely that Liverpool will be able to contain Brighton’s forays forward, as they were already a shadow of last season’s team defensively before suffering an untimely injury to their defensive lynchpin van Dijk. Ordinarily, we’d back Brighton here to deny Liverpool all three points here and perhaps even claim an important victory, but there is another factor at play here – the January transfer window. Rumours are swirling regarding both Leandro Trossard and Alexis Mac Allister in particular, and although it’s merely conjecture at this point, Trossard has been conspicuous by his absence in both of Brighton’s recent outings against Everton and Middlesbrough after being dropped due to poor form. We think that Liverpool will come through an end-to-end game full of chances and drama.

Brighton 2-3 Liverpool

Beat the Bookmaker Brighton vs Liverpool Prediction – Liverpool Odds: