MY ACCOUNT
– Brighton have won two and drawn three of their last six games against Liverpool
– Jurgen Klopp’s side have won only won of their last five games
– Recommended bet: Brighton Draw no Bet
Holders Liverpool return to the scene of what Jurgen Klopp called one of the worst displays of his managerial career when they tackle in-form Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.
The Reds’ 3-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium earlier this month came in the wake of an away defeat at Brentford and a fortunate home draw with Wolves in the FA Cup third round when a VAR failure prevented the visitors from going 3-2 up.
Klopp is adamant that progress has been made since he changed some personnel around, but they have won only one of their last five coming into this game.
By contrast, Brighton have lost only once in 90 minutes since action resumed following the World Cup and missed chances to make it four wins in a row at Leicester last weekend.
Having scored six goals and taken four points from their two Premier League clashes with Liverpool this season, Roberto De Zerbi’s side will be confident of another positive result.
Team news
Adam Lallana, who was majestic against his former club a fortnight ago, could miss out after he came off injured in the first half of Brighton’s draw with Leicester last weekend.
Pascal Gross looks likely to be moved from right-back into midfield and Alexis Mac Allister deployed in the number 10 role to allow either Joel Veltman or Tariq Lamptey to return to De Zerbi’s back four.
Evan Ferguson and Danny Welbeck are vying for the striker’s berth.
Long-term knee injury victim Jakub Moder and Levi Colwill, who is facing up to six weeks out with a quadriceps injury, are the only certain absentees.
For Liverpool, Klopp is likely to stick with a similar team and formation to the one he deployed at Anfield in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea last weekend.
Darwin Nunez could step up from the bench to replace Cody Gakpo, but the four players he replaced in a quadruple substitution at the Amex Stadium a fortnight ago have yet to start since.
Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain look likely to be on the bench again, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is another star that has been left out recently.
Teenager Stefan Bajcetic has taken his chance in central midfield, injecting a brio and bite that was previously lacking, while Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez appear to be gelling well in central defence.
Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Arthur remain on Liverpool’s long-term casualty list, while Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk are also sidelined with calf and hamstring issues, respectively.
The stats
Five members of Klopp’s starting XI from the 3-0 loss to Brighton a fortnight ago have not started either of the following two matches.
Brighton have won three of their past four FA Cup fourth-round ties, while Liverpool have lost four of their last six at this stage of the competition.
In the current format of the competition (since 1925-26), only Wolves (30), Sheffield United (28) and West Ham (27) have exited the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage more than Liverpool (26).
Prediction
Brighton may not be able to repeat the success they enjoyed in pressing Liverpool’s over-run midfield into submission during the last clash, but they have enough players in form to cause the Reds plenty of problems.
Kaoru Mitoma is arguably one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Premier League right now and teenage striker Ferguson continues to look like he belongs at this level.
Klopp’s faith in Bajcetic looks well-placed as he has vastly improved their team play in recent games, but Gakpo, Nunez and Alexander-Arnold are all struggling.
Liverpool, who have won only one of their last six meetings with the Seagulls, look uneasy favourites for this tie and the hosts will not mind being underdogs again.
Brighton look well-placed to progress in terms of form and the fitness of their match-winning players.
But, given three of the last six meetings between these clubs have finished all square, the Draw no Bet market offers a safer route to side with the Seagulls.
