Brighton vs Liverpool match preview: team news, lineups, TV, kick-off time, referee
By
Dan Vassie
Dan Vassie
Once again, just three days after a midweek Europa League clash, Liverpool face a tough Premier League game away from home.
This time the Reds are at Brighton. Welcome to the world of Thursday/Sunday scheduling.
Despite last weekend's loss at the hands of Tottenham and some appalling officiating, Liverpool have got off to a very good start to the 2023/24 campaign.
Jurgen Klopp has managed his side to 16 points in the league, just two points off league leaders Manchester City after seven games, and the squad remain unbeaten in the cup competitions.
It is expected that the starting XI that faces Union Saint-Gilloise will be adequately rotated in order to keep legs fresh and ready for Brighton on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds need a big statement with the trip to Brighton the last chance to avenge the controversy at Spurs before the international break.
Here's everything you need to know about the game.
DATE, KICK-OFF, STADIUM & REFEREE
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Date: Sunday, 8 October 2023
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Kick-off time: 14:00 BST / 09:00 ET / 06:00 PT
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Stadium: The American Express (Amex) Stadium - 30,666 capacity
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Match officials: Anthony Taylor (referee), Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn (assistants), Craig Pawson (fourth official), Chris Kavanagh (VAR), Matthew Wilkes (assistant VAR)
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Liverpool have only played Brighton 38 times in their long history so far, which shows just how far the South Coast club have come in recent years to be in Europe and largely considered one of the better teams in the country
Of those fixtures, the Reds have come out on top overall, winning 20, drawing 11 and losing seven – but, over the last ten matches between the two clubs, Liverpool have struggled to get one over on Brighton, only winning four and dropping points in the other six.
In fact, in the last seven games between the sides in all competitions, Liverpool have picked up just one win.
Last season, the Seagulls beat Klopp's men twice in just over the space of two weeks, following up a 3-0 win in the Premier League by knocking the Reds out of the FA Cup fourth round, 2-1 thanks to a late Kaoru Mitoma winner.
Sunday's match is unlikely to be any easier than recent meetings with Brighton sitting just one point below the Reds in the league.
The only silver lining in Brighton's form is that they are coming off the back of a 6-1 away thrashing at Aston Villa, who Liverpool comfortably beat 3-0 earlier in the season.
WHERE TO WATCH BRIGHTON VS LIVERPOOL ON TV
For UK viewers, the game will be shown as the early kick-off on Sky Sports.
European viewers can find the game on DAZN.
In the US, the game is available on the USA Network, NBCSports.com and via FuboTV.
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
Starting with the good news, now Trent Alexander-Arnold is fully fit, expect to see him return to the starting XI against Brighton. This should be the case even if he does start in the Europa League mid-week; he's simply too much of an asset to bench.
As for the Reds' unavailability list, Cody Gakpo will definitely be unavailable after the Dutchman was forced to leave the field shortly after scoring his equaliser against Tottenham last weekend.
After it originally appeared as though Gakpo would miss several games on the sidelines, it is now expected that he will only miss two games for Liverpool (Union Saint-Gilloise and Brighton) and will be available for selection after the international break.
Meanwhile, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones will also both be unavailable for selection having been sent off against Spurs.
Thiago Alcantara also remains injured. The Spaniard is yet to play a single minute for Liverpool since April and, despite many false deadlines, his return date remains unknown.
Stefan Bajcetic is another major doubt, having suffered a 'setback' in his return to full fitness.
Darwin Nuñez is the only other doubt. The striker was only fit enough for the bench against Spurs, with Klopp revealing the chaotic Uruguayan was struggling with a 'little bone' injury in his knee. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to feature at the weekend.
BRIGHTON TEAM NEWS
Ahead of Sunday's clash, Brighton will definitely be without the highly-rated Julio Enciso, who has been injured with a torn meniscus since late August, as well as midfielder Jakub Moder and Pascal Gross.
In addition, there will be no reunion for Liverpool legend James Milner who is set to be out until after the international break with a muscular issue.
PREDICTED LINEUP
Expect to see the strongest XI that Liverpool have available, as the squad aim to make a big statement to the rest of the Premier League following the controversial defeat at Tottenham last weekend.
(4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Nuñez, Diaz
PREDICTION
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