MY ACCOUNT
– Liverpool have won with both teams scoring in four of their last five PL games
– Brighton have lost five of their last six meetings with the Reds on home turf
– Recommended Bet: Liverpool to win with both teams to score
Brighton provide the latest test to Liverpool’s defence when the two clubs, separated by a single point after 17 games, face off at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds have been rocked by Virgil van Dijk’s recent injury and have now conceded as many goals as they had done after 34 rounds of the previous Premier League campaign.
The Seagulls are scoring many more than last term and hit five in their FA Cup demolition of Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last weekend.
That was without top scorer Leandro Trossard, who has been the subject of transfer talk this January, in the line-up.
Roberto de Zerbi’s men could jump into the top six with a victory this weekend, but Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have a good record in Brighton and will be out to make amends for a sloppy display against Wolves in the cup.
Team news
De Zerbi confirmed that Trossard, who scored a hat-trick at Anfield in the reverse fixture last October, was not involved at Middlesbrough due to a calf injury picked up in training 24 hours before Saturday’s FA Cup win.
The Belgian attacker will be assessed before kick-off with Jakub Moder (knee) the only Brighton player who has definitely been ruled out.
Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman were rested at the Riverside Stadium and should slot straight back into a settled back four in front of the returning Robert Sanchez.
An expected return for Alexis Mac Allister means Adam Lallana could drop down to the bench against his former club, while burgeoning talent star Evan Ferguson receives another chance to impress up front.
For Liverpool, there is a doubt over Darwin Nunez’s fitness amid reports that the Uruguayan has missed training for the past few days.
The injury is not thought to be major and the club have not officially ruled the striker out of Saturday’s clash.
Klopp will certainly be without captain Virgil van Dijk, who suffered a hamstring injury against Brentford, while Arthur Melo, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz also remain under treatment for the time being.
James Milner and Roberto Firmino could boost the German’s selection options this weekend after recovering from hamstring and heel problems respectively, but Stefan Bajcetic is out with a minor injury.
The stats
Albion have scored 32 goals in their 17 league games this season — precisely double their tally at this stage in 2021-22 (16). It’s the most the Seagulls have scored by this point of a league campaign since 1976-77 (39).
Liverpool have earned just 28.6% of their Premier League points this season away from home (8/28), the lowest ratio in the top flight.
Mohamed Salah has bagged six goals and assisted six more in 11 career appearances against the Seagulls and scored four times in five games played at the Amex Stadium.
No club has hit the woodwork more times in the Premier League this season than Liverpool, who have struck the post or crossbar a total of 12 times across their 17 matches.
Prediction
Liverpool’s recent problems have been their slow starts and they cannot afford to make the same mistake against a Seagulls side who have been flying out of the traps of late.
Brighton have scored a goal inside the first 15 minutes in five of their last six league fixtures, and those early inroads have more often than not led to three points at the final whistle.
The Reds’ recent away record is not as good as normal, but they have matched up well against Albion in recent years and won five of their last six in Sussex.
Salah has enjoyed himself in games on the South Coast and can shoot Klopp’s team to victory in an entertaining affair where both teams will probably trade goals at some point.
Liverpool have won and both teams have scored in four of their last five Premier League fixtures with another such victory available to back at 9/4 with LiveScore Bet.
