Liverpool Start Crucial Title Run-in with Tricky Brighton Visit
28 March 2024 – by Ross Barker
Our preview of Liverpool vs Brighton (2pm Sunday). The Premier League title race is hotting up. Is this a must-win game for the Reds?
• Brighton’s form is inconsistent, but they remain a credible threat to any opponent
Our prediction is Liverpool to win (score prediction below)
MATCH PREVIEW
Liverpool tasted an untimely defeat just before club football took a break for the recent international fixtures. They entered their FA Cup Quarter Final clash with Manchester United as favourites, only to lose out with the last kick of the game.
It means that Klopp’s men must be satisfied with chasing three, rather than four, trophies this season. That said, they are in with a great shout of doing so.
Realistically, they could finish this weekend top of the Premier League with daylight between themselves and the chasing pack, with Manchester City versus Arsenal taking place at the Etihad, right after the Anfield game ends. One or both teams of those teams have to drop points.
With nine games in 28 days, Jurgen Klopp will need to manage the workload of his players, especially with many coming back from international duty.
As for Brighton, their path has been less consistent this season, having enjoyed a stellar campaign 12 months ago.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi remains one of the men in discussion to take over at Anfield in the summer when Jurgen Klopp departs, though he hasn’t been able to inspire the same kind of performances from his team of late.
They remain in with a chance of European football next season, sitting just two points behind West Ham and 7th place, although a tricky run of fixtures could derail their hopes of doing so.
With both Liverpool and Brighton playing an attractive brand of football, this should be a thrilling contest.
LIVERPOOL
Reasons to be cheerful:
• Unbeaten in their last 21 home league games
• Victory could see them move clear at the top of the Premier League
Reasons to be fearful:
• Fixture congestion and injury concerns could play a part
• Brighton have performed well against Reds in the past
Will that last-minute FA Cup defeat to Manchester United dampen their confidence? It’s possible, but Jurgen Klopp knows that there is plenty left to play for this season.
One positive to come from the international break is that Mo Salah was allowed to miss Egypt’s two friendlies, meaning that he should be fit and raring to go here at Anfield. Once again, his contribution has been nothing short of fantastic for the Reds this season, scoring 20 goals or more for the seventh consecutive campaign.
On the injuries front, Alisson continues his rehab and is likely to miss further games against Sheffield United, Manchester United, Atalanta in the Europa League and Crystal Palace. Caoimhin Kelleher has been an able replacement, but Brazilian Becker is arguably the best stopper in the league.
Elsewhere, Trent Alexander Arnold steps up his recovery, while Diogo Jota and Joel Matip completed individual training this week.
Liverpool haven’t always had the best results against Brighton in recent seasons, but you feel they can’t afford to slip up here.
Star Man – Mo Salah
The Egyptian will be fresh for this game. He averages a goal or assist every 76 minutes this season, the best rate of any player in the Premier League. Salah also needs one more assist to reach double figures in three consecutive seasons.
BRIGHTON
Reasons to be cheerful
• Unbeaten in their last three away games against Liverpool
• Returned to winning ways recently against Nottingham Forest
Reasons to be fearful
• Taken just five points from last 33 available away to top-half teams
• Tough fixture list could derail European hopes
You feel that Brighton remain a dangerous side for a title-chasing team like Liverpool.
Despite the Seagulls’ inconsistency on the pitch this season, Roberto De Zerbi will be especially motivated to set down a marker here. His name has been added to the mix of those tipped to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in the summer, but he’ll want to show he’s fully committed to the cause at Brighton.
The Seagulls have enjoyed a fine record at Anfield in recent seasons, coming away with a victory and two draws. Indeed, Brighton have only suffered one defeat from their last eight meetings, back in 2022, so confidence will be high here.
Recent results haven’t been in their favour, however, with the club losing five of their last six on the road in all competitions, including humbling 3-0 and 4-0 defeats to Fulham and Roma respectively.
With the likes of Brentford, Arsenal and Manchester City to follow next month, Brighton must pick up their form if they are to quality for Europe next season.
On the pitch, Joao Pedro is tipped to return after an eight-match absence due to injury, while Evan Ferguson or Danny Welbeck will get the nod upfront.
Star Man – Lewis Dunk
Dunk endured a difficult game for England in midweek, but has been exceptional again for Brighton at the back this season. He is often the Seagulls’ most consistent player and he’ll need a great game to stop Liverpool’s forwards.
OUR PREDICTION
• Liverpool favourites to move top of the league
• Possession evenly shared in a technical game
• Salah could be the difference for the Reds again
With Manchester City and Arsenal potentially dropping points later in the day, Liverpool must make the most of a home game and go three points clear at the top.
There’s no doubt that this will be a tough game for the Reds. Brighton have won two on the bounce and will have had the two-week international break to prepare for this one. The Seagulls have shown in recent seasons why coming to Anfield hasn’t been such a poisoned chalice.
However, Liverpool are the favourites here and with players like Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez sitting out the recent international break, they should have too much for their opponents going forward.
Prediction: Liverpool to win 1-0
