Prediction: Liverpool vs Brighton and Hove Albion

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: 888sport

Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion are set to face off at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, just days after their intense five-goal encounter in the Carabao Cup. In that game, played at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, Liverpool emerged victorious with a 3-2 win over Fabian Hurzeler’s side, securing their spot in the quarterfinals of the competition.

Liverpool

As is often the case with the Premier League’s ‘big six’, an early exit from the Carabao Cup would not have been catastrophic for Liverpool. However, the holders in the competition remain in contention for their 11th trophy after a successful performance on the South Coast, showcasing their determination to extend their record in this cup.

Dutch forward Cody Gakpo continued his impressive run in the tournament by netting his third and fourth goals in the 2024/25 campaign, delivering two powerful strikes in the second half. Luis Diaz followed up by adding a goal, securing Liverpool’s 3-2 win and rendering the efforts of Brighton’s Simon Adingra and Tariq Lamptey mere consolation.

While Liverpool’s attention will soon shift to the quarterfinal fixture against Southampton, their focus is also set on an intense November schedule. Following the international break, they will face back-to-back Champions League clashes against Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, followed by a match against Manchester City, demanding the squad’s full commitment on both domestic and European fronts.

Liverpool’s position in the Premier League standings took a slight hit after last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. The Reds twice had to fight back from behind to salvage a point, which allowed Manchester City to take the lead. However, Liverpool can reclaim the top spot if they beat Brighton and City fail to triumph over Bournemouth.

Currently, Liverpool’s only competitive loss this season came in a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in September. Since then, they’ve built a strong streak at Anfield, securing four consecutive wins in which they scored multiple goals, including victories over Chelsea, Bologna, West Ham and Bournemouth. This form reinforces Liverpool’s strength at home as they aim to keep pace in the title race.

Team News

Manager Arne Slot still cannot call upon first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, but Caoimhin Kelleher will return between the posts having sat the cup clash out in favour of Vitezslav Jaros. The same goes for Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the back line, though Andy Robertson could give his spot up to Kostas Tsimikas, after several underwhelming performances.

Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota are out through injuries and aren’t expected back before the break. Following his terrific midweek brace, Gakpo could be named to start again, alongside Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez upfront, with Luis Diaz on the bench after playing the full match at the Amex.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton scored both their goals on Wednesday due to moments involving Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah. The young centre-back first misplaced a pass in his own half which enabled the Seagulls to attack and eventually Adingra to score, and then Lamptey’s shot picked up a deflection off him and flew past Jaros on its way into the net. Still, their poor performance in that second half was the reason behind the defeat, just as it happened against Wolverhampton Wanderers previously in the Premier League.

Danny Welbeck and Evan Ferguson initially seemed to secure a straightforward win for Brighton over Wolves, giving the Seagulls a comfortable lead. However, Wolves staged an unexpected comeback as Rayan Ait-Nouri scored to cut the deficit, and in a critical moment during injury time, Brighton’s Mats Wieffer – now set to face his former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot with Liverpool – missed a golden opportunity, failing to capitalize on a four-on-one attack. This squandered chance allowed Matheus Cunha to equalize for Wolves, ultimately denying Brighton a third consecutive Premier League victory and a potential rise into the top four.

Despite this missed opportunity, Brighton’s sixth-place standing under the Premier League’s youngest permanent manager remains impressive. Known for their high-scoring games, their last seven matches have featured a total of 30 goals, averaging over four per game. This run has seen the Seagulls score and concede at least twice in six out of those seven fixtures, emphasizing their commitment to an exciting, attack-minded style.

Brighton has a mixed record against Liverpool, with Wednesday’s defeat marking just their third loss in their last 10 meetings with the Reds. One of the other two losses came in this very fixture last season, a 2-1 setback that will be fresh in the minds of both teams as they prepare for their latest clash at Anfield.

Team News

Brighton’s defensive line against Liverpool on Wednesday was weakened by the absence of captain Lewis Dunk, who sustained a calf injury during the warm-up for their match against Wolves. Dunk’s availability for the upcoming Saturday fixture remains uncertain, adding to Brighton’s defensive concerns.

Several other players are dealing with injuries too. Yankuba Minteh (groin) and Joao Pedro (ankle) face similar uncertainty, while Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Matt O’Riley (ankle), and Adam Webster (thigh) are all sidelined.

On a positive note, Georginio Rutter, having been cup-tied midweek, is now available for selection and could rejoin Danny Welbeck in attack. Meanwhile, Jack Hinshelwood, who recently overcame a minor injury to make a substitute appearance on Wednesday, may return to his regular role in midfield.

Conclusion

Goals are typically plentiful in Brighton’s matches under  Hurzeler, yet their attacking performance in the midweek clash may not carry the same weight against Liverpool’s resilient defence, the toughest in the Premier League this season.

Slot is expected to field his strongest available lineup for this fixture, even with an upcoming Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in mind. Liverpool will aim to assert their dominance and should have little difficulty returning to winning form in the Premier League at Anfield.

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: 888sport