Liverpool take on Brighton The teams recently faced off in the Carabao Cup, where Liverpool secured a 3-2 victory at Brighton. Arne Slot’s side currently sits second in the league table, while Brighton, having lost just once this season, are in sixth place.
Liverpool Form
Liverpool have been impressive this season, winning 11 of their first 12 matches and accumulating 12 wins in 14 fixtures. Their only loss came at home to Nottingham Forest, but they responded with seven consecutive victories, including wins over AC Milan (3-1), Crystal Palace (1-0), and Chelsea (2-1).
They followed up with a dominant 1-0 victory away to RB Leipzig, creating 2.38 xG and taking 17 shots. Liverpool also drew 2-2 at Arsenal in a hard-fought match. In midweek, a rotated lineup still managed to beat Brighton 3-2 in the Carabao Cup, despite allowing 19 shots.
Liverpool Team News
Arne Slot rested most of his regular starters in midweek, with Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, and Luis Diaz the only key players involved. Alisson Becker remains out due to injury, and Harvey Elliott isn’t expected back in time for this match. Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota are also unavailable until after the FIFA break.
Liverpool Motivation
Liverpool’s recent draw with Arsenal caused them to slip below Man City in the standings, so they’ll be eager to return to winning ways in the league. They’ll go all out for a victory, as a draw at home would feel like a setback.
Brighton Form
Brighton have lost only once this season in the league, with their midweek League Cup loss to Liverpool marking just their second defeat of the season. After opening with two EPL wins, they went winless in their next four matches, including a 0-0 draw with Ipswich and a 2-2 tie against Nottingham Forest.
Brighton’s 4-2 loss to Chelsea saw them concede 4.16 xG, but they showed resilience by turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 home win over Tottenham. They then held on for a 1-0 victory at Newcastle. Last weekend, however, they squandered a 2-0 lead to end in a 2-2 draw with Wolves. In the Carabao Cup midweek, a rotated lineup lost 3-2 at home to Liverpool.
Brighton Team News
Brighton will be without Solly March, James Milner, and Adam Webster due to injuries, with five additional players facing late fitness tests: Lewis Dunk, Matt O’Reilly, Joao Pedro, Yankuba Minteh, and Ferdi Kadioglu. If Dunk is unavailable, Igor Julio is likely to step in. Karou Mitoma, Danny Welbeck, and Pervis Estupinan are expected to start.
Brighton Motivation
Brighton will look to challenge Liverpool at Anfield and may adopt a deeper defensive stance if they manage to take the lead, as seen in their game at St. James’ Park. A draw would be a satisfactory result, but they will likely push for all three points until the closing stages.
Key Stats
Liverpool’s last 52 home EPL matches: 40 wins, 10 draws, 2 losses
Liverpool have scored 24 goals in their last 10 league matches at home
Liverpool have won 12 of their 14 matches this season (31 goals scored)
Brighton’s last 5 EPL matches have produced 20 goals (10 conceded, 10 scored)
The last 6 matches between Liverpool and Brighton have seen 24 goals (4 per game)
Brighton have lost only 1 of their 9 EPL matches this season (4 wins, 4 draws)
Verdict
This matchup promises goals based on recent history, and Liverpool should have enough firepower to overcome Brighton. Backing Liverpool with a -1 handicap is a strong play.