Match Preview
Liverpool head into their final Premier League match before Mohamed Salah leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations, with the situation surrounding him still casting a shadow over events on the pitch.
The Reds won 1-0 against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, amid continued fallout from Salah’s comments following their 3-3 draw at Leeds United last Saturday.
Salah, whose omission from the game at Elland Road marked the third consecutive match in which he was left on the bench, said he had been “thrown under the bus” and claimed he no longer had a relationship with manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool were impressively determined in their absence at San Siro and claimed all three points thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai’s controversial penalty.
But the Reds have not had back-to-back wins since November 4, when they followed that up with victory over Aston Villa to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Consistency is what has eluded Liverpool so far, and they face a Brighton side who have had similar problems.
Brighton followed up successive wins over Brentford and Nottingham Forest with a defeat to Villa in a seven-goal thriller and a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham.
The Seagulls are ahead of Liverpool on goal difference in an extremely tight Premier League table, with both teams having collected 23 points.
Georginio Rutter saved a point for Brighton against the relegation-threatened Hammers and, although the trip to Anfield is daunting, he is confident Fabian Hürzeler’s side can find momentum during a busy festive period schedule.
“Of course we have some very important games,” Rutter told Brighton’s official website.
“If we take as many points as possible it can be good for the future and maybe play Europe, but we have to take it game by game, that’s more important. If we are already thinking about Europe you may be a little confused. We have to take it game by game.
“We have to be more consistent. That’s a bit of the problem, but we have to work on it. I believe in my team, so we will do better. I have no doubt about that.”
Team news for Liverpool vs Brighton
After his omission against Inter, it seems likely that Salah will be left out again.
His compatriot Cody Gakpo will be out for a few weeks with an unspecified injury.
The Reds hope to have Jérémie Frimpong back from a hamstring injury, while Federico Chiesa could return after missing the win against Inter through illness.
Solly March is back in training for Brighton after a long injury absence but is unlikely to feature.
Centre-back Adam Webster is the only other Brighton absentee suffering from a knee ligament injury which will keep him out for the rest of the season.
Predicted line-ups for Liverpool vs Brighton
Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Gakpo, Ekitike.
Brighton: Subjects, Very, Van Hecke, Dunk, The Cuyper, Balba, Gemez, Minteh, Rutter, Kadioglu, Welbeck.
How to watch Liverpool v Brighton: TV and online streams
Liverpool v Brighton kicks off on Saturday at 3pm UK time. It will not be broadcast live in the UK.
Statistics for Liverpool vs Brighton
- Liverpool have lost just one of their eight Premier League home matches against Brighton (W5 D2).
- Brighton beat Liverpool 3-2 when they last met in May, but have never beaten the Reds in consecutive league matches.
- Liverpool have just 23 points (W7 D2 L6) and have conceded 24 goals in the Premier League this season, the worst start by a reigning champion in either category after 15 matches since Leicester City in 2016-17 (16 points, conceded 26).
- Brighton have kept a clean sheet in each of their last two Premier League away matches – the Seagulls have not kept three in a row since between March and July 2020.
- Liverpool have conceded 48 goals in 35 Premier League matches in 2025 – only twice previously have they allowed more than 50 goals in a year in the competition, in 2012 (51) and 2014 (52).
- Brighton are winless in their last eight Premier League matches in December (D5 L3) – manager Fabian Hürzeler has won a match in each of the other nine months he has taken charge of the Seagulls.
Prediction for Liverpool vs Brighton
Liverpool
2
–
2
Brighton
Liverpool improved a lot in midweek, but it’s hard to trust them consistently this season. Another setback in the league would not be a surprise.
Bet here
