Liverpool and Brighton lock horns this afternoon for the second time in just four days, after a five-goal tussle in midweek saw the Reds progress in the EFL Cup. The score was 0-0 at half-time at the Amex, but two second-half strikes from Cody Gakpo and a third from Luis Diaz was enough to seal victory for Arne Slot’s side, with Simon Adingra and Tariq Lamptey netting for the hosts.
Slot will have been happy to see his side come from behind to draw with Arsenal last time in the Premier League, but further dropped points today could be costly in the title race. The manager will also have one eye on a tough Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen in the week ahead.
Fabian Hurzeler will know the 3-2 scoreline in defeat still flattered his side four three days ago and he will be wary of not losing too much momentum after a frustrating draw with Wolves last weekend, conceding twice in the final minutes. Leaving Anfield today with anything will be a huge bonus. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.
Liverpool vs Brighton latest updates
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Kick-off: 3pm GMT, Anfield
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Liverpool team: Nunez starts up front
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Brighton team: Joao Pedro out
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Score prediction: Reds to march on in title race
Tunnel time
14:57 , Jamie Dickenson
Both teams are emerging from the tunnel ahead of Liverpool vs Brighton in the Premier League.
Kick-off at Anfield is just minutes away…
Reds boost from Newcastle
14:43 , Jamie Dickenson
Liverpool have been given a pre-match boost with Newcastle taking all three points against a below-par Arsenal.
Alexander Isak’s first-half header was enough to separate the two teams in a 1-0 victory, meaning the Reds can go seven points ahead of Arsenal by beating Brighton.
Joao Pedro missing for Brighton
14:31 , Jamie Dickenson
Brighton are surprisingly without Joao Pedro, who was expected to return to their squad today.
But there is no sign of the Brazilian forward, with Danny Welbeck continuing to lead the line in his absence and Evan Ferguson on the bench.
Lewis Dunk is also not involved.
Reds arrive
14:14
Liverpool’s players have arrived at Anfield ahead of their clash with Brighton.
The Reds could go top of the Premier League with victory today, if Manchester City fail to win at Bournemouth.
Both games kick off at 3pm BST.
Brighton confirmed team
13:52 , Jamie Dickenson
Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Julio, Estupinan; Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Ayari, Mitoma, Rutter; Welbeck.
Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Gruda, Enciso, Adingra, Moder, Baleba, Wieffer, Ferguson.
Liverpool confirmed team
13:50 , Jamie Dickenson
Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
Subs: Jaros, Gomez, Endo, Diaz, Jones, Robertson, Quansah, Morton, Bradley.
Stage set at Anfield
13:44
We will have team news in the next few minutes…
Slot programme notes
13:41 , Jamie Dickenson
Arne Slot wants to see more of the same from his Liverpool team against Brighton.
In his programme notes, Slot wrote: “Of course, it is only a few days since our teams last met so there has not been too much time to digest the outcome, but the reality is that no matter how that game would have turned out we would know that today’s game would be another really tough one.
“For the long term, on Wednesday night I really liked what I saw from the players who haven’t played that much this season yet, that they were able to play a similar style that we usually do and they brought quality into the game. That makes it even harder for me to make line-ups in the upcoming weeks but this is also something that I want.
“The fact that we won will not make a difference today, though. What we earned in that tie was a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup and that is very welcome, but it does not bring us any advantages in this fixture. If we are to win again we will have to perform really well again. We recognise the challenge that our opponents will bring and this means there will be no shortcuts.
“In recent seasons, Brighton have earned themselves a reputation for being an exciting, up-and-coming team but I would say that they have now moved onto another level again having established themselves as a top-level Premier League side. The fact that they go into this game in sixth place having achieved some really good results already this season only underlines this.
“I would like to welcome Fabian Hurzeler, his players and staff and everyone associated with the club to Anfield having had the courtesy of a similar welcome at the Amex Stadium in midweek. I said in the build-up to that game that I really like Brighton’s playing style and this feeling has not changed in any way since then. If anything, it has become even stronger.”
Can Brighton provide a shock?
13:28 , Jamie Dickenson
Brighton have had a good start to the season so far and have already provided a few shocks against the big boys.
They drew 1-1 at Arsenal at the end of August and came from two goals down to beat Tottenham 3-2 last month as well as winning 1-0 away at Tottenham.
Getting a result at Anfield could be their best of the lot if they can manage to repeat the trick at Anfield.
Slot not worried about contract issues
13:17
Liverpool boss Arne Slot insists he is not concerned about the contract uncertainty surrounding a trio of his key players.
Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah are all currently out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season.
Captain Virgil van Dijk, 33, has revealed he is in talks with Liverpool about extending his deal but there have been no updates on Alexander-Arnold, 26, or Salah, 32.
Slot said: “For me the contract situation could become a problem if the players don’t perform as well as they do at the moment.
“Of course it’s not sure that if, if, if they perform not as good any more that it has anything to do with their contract situation.
“At the moment all three of them are in a good place, all of them perform really, really, really well and there are ongoing discussions, as Virgil said, with the people he has to talk with, and that’s not me as you know. I talk with him to him about other things.
“Let’s wait and see but all what he said is completely right in that he doesn’t exactly know what the future will be as long as he doesn’t sign the contract yet.”
Reds sharing the goals around
13:04 , Jamie Dickenson
Liverpool have been sharing the goals around this season, with four players scoring at least four across all competitions.
Mohamed Salah leads the way with eight goals from 14 games, with Luis Diaz second with six to his name and both Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota on four.
Darwin Nunez needs to add more to his tally with a disappointing two goals from 11 games under new boss Arne Slot.
Slot has seen centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate pop up with two goals each, with solitary strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones.
Joao Pedro to return
12:44 , Jamie Dickenson
Joao Pedro could make his long-awaited return from injury for Brighton against Liverpool.
The Brazilian forward has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during Brighton’s feisty draw with Nottingham Forest in September having only just returned from another knock sustained on international duty.
Pedro has missed Brighton’s last five matches across all competitions, with Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler urging patience with his recovery with the club understandably reluctant to rush one of their most important players back into action too soon.
The 23-year-old scored 20 goals across all competitions last season and so far this campaign the Seagulls have been able to rely on Danny Welbeck in attack, with six goals in 11 appearances.
Slot hints at Nunez recall
12:34
Darwin Nunez could be set for an immediate recall when Liverpool face Brighton for the second time this week. Well, that’s if Arne Slot’s preference is anything to go by.
When the two sides met in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday, the Reds boss decided to experiment by opting against naming a recognised centre-forward in his starting lineup.
In truth, Slot’s hand was somewhat forced given that Diogo Jota was unavailable for selection because of injury, not to mention the hectic fixture schedule which meant Nunez was rested – although the Uruguayan did make an appearance off the bench in the second half.
The fact that Slot’s preference is to play with a real striker is a clear indication that Nunez will likely be restored to the starting lineup on Saturday, especially when taking into account that the Liverpool boss doesn’t seem to want to use either Cody Gakpo or Luiz Diaz in the centre-forward position and with Jota still sidelined.
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Head to head (h2h) history and results
12:20 , Jamie Dickenson
Liverpool are unbeaten from their last three games against Brighton and won this fixture 2-1 last season thanks to Mohamed Salah’s winner.
Brighton beat Liverpool twice in the 2022/23 campaign but both those victories came on the south coast, with the Seagulls’ last win at Anfield coming in February 2021.
Liverpool wins: 22
Draws: 12
Brighton wins: 7
Liverpool vs Brighton latest odds
12:17 , Jamie Dickenson
Liverpool are heavy favourites to beat Brighton at home and maintain their strong start to the season.
Liverpool to win: 4/11
Draw: 4/1
Brighton to win: 6/1
Odds via Betfair and subject to change.
Liverpool vs Brighton prediction
12:06 , Jamie Dickenson
The Seagulls pushed Liverpool close on Wednesday, but Arne Slot will bring his biggest names back into the starting lineup for what should be a more routine win.
Slot will hope for a fast start back at Anfield, with Bayer Leverkusen coming in midweek.
Liverpool to win, 3-1.
Brighton team news
12:05 , Jamie Dickenson
Brighton could welcome back Joao Pedro after his recent injury absence, while captain Lewis Dunk is also pushing to be fit after missing the midweek game with an injury picked up over the weekend.
Ferdi Kadioglu is expected to be available following a foot issue but Adam Webster, James Milner, Matt O’Riley and Solly March remain unavailable for selection.
Liverpool team news
12:02 , Jamie Dickenson
Liverpool will ring the changes today as Arne Slot prepares to take on Brighton for the second time in four days.
An entertaining 3-2 win on the south coast on Wednesday night secured the Reds a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Southampton, despite the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister all starting the game on the bench.
Those three should all return to the starting line-up at Anfield, along with Virgil van Dijk, as attention returns to the Premier League title race.
Diogo Jota is still sidelined, and is not expected back before the November international break – and the same can be said for goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Harvey Elliott.
Slot delivered a concerning update on Chiesea ahead of the win at the Seagulls, telling reporters: “I’m not expecting him to be in the squad. Sometimes, he’s there with us, training for a few days, and then he goes out with injury again.
“So, I don’t want to put days or weeks on it because I don’t put any pressure on him.”
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
Where to watch Liverpool vs Brighton
11:58 , Jamie Dickenson
TV channel and live stream: The game will not be broadcast in the UK as it takes place during the 3pm blackout imposed across English football.
Free highlights: Highlights, however, will be broadcast on Match of the Day at 10.20pm GMT on Saturday on BBC One.
Welcome!
11:51 , Jamie Dickenson
Good morning and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League meeting between Liverpool and Brighton.
Just three days after the Reds edged their EFL Cup clash 3-2 these two teams meet again at Anfield.
Liverpool are second in the league just one point behind leaders Manchester City, while Brighton are in sixth under new manager Fabian Hurzeler.
Stick with us for all the best build-up, team news and latest updates ahead of the 3pm BST scheduled kick-off.
