Liverpool will be looking to bolster their chances of a top-four finish in the Premier League when they travel to face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The Reds sit fifth in the Premier League, and are just two points outside the top four. But they are also winless in their past two league matches.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Brighton
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Arne Slot’s side suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Championship-bound Wolverhampton Wanderers, before giving up a lead to draw with relegation-battling Tottenham Hotspur.
But they did bounce back in midweek with a strong 4-0 win over Galatasaray to book their spot in the Champions League last 16.
Liverpool team news vs Brighton
Slot has a few decisions to make. He rotated his side for the draw against Tottenham last weekend, putting his full attention on the Champions League. The question now is, how full-strength does Slot go?
It’s a pretty quick turnaround from a Wednesday night game to the early Saturday kick-off. But there is also an international break after the weekend. So we may still see Slot go all out for this match.
But there may still be a couple of changes from midfield, not least in the system. Slot lined up his side with a diamond midfield and two strikers. He’s likely to return to a 4-2-3-1, with just Hugo Ekitike leading the line. Alexander Isak is still out injured and won’t be back until after the international break.
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Mo Salah has been ruled out due to injury, picked up in the second half against Galatasaray. So Rio Ngumoha could start on the right side of the midfield, with Cody Gakpo on the left — the latter having been dropped to the bench in midweek. Florian Wirtz is likely to play as the sole No.10, with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch as the double pivot.
The backline could remain the same with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong as full-backs. But Dominik Szoboszlai will hope to find a way into the team, even if it is at right-back.
Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley remain long-term absentees, all expected to be out for the season.
Liverpool’s blow
Liverpool travel to the Amex Stadium in a bit of a bad run. They’re winless in their past three league trips, losing two. And they’ll be hurt by the fact that Salah is not available.
Salah has scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in the Premier League against Brighton, more than any other player. He’s one of just three players to lead both metrics against a single club in the competition. He joins Alan Shearer vs Nottingham Forest and Les Ferdinand against AFC Wimbledon.
Liverpool have also won each of their two games against Brighton this season, across all competitions. The Reds beat the Seagulls 2-0 at home in the league and then 3-0 at Anfield in the FA Cup.
And Salah was directly involved in three of the five goals, scoring one while providing two assists.
He’ll be a big miss.