Brighton (h) Preview

In a season where The Reds have done really well to stay at the top of the league fighting off all kinds of obstacles thrown in our way. We go into the final 10 games of the Premier League season kicking off with Brighton at Anfield Sunday afternoon with everything to play for..

This has been a tricky little fixture over the past three seasons home and away. At home we have lost one and drawn two. Surrendering leads in both draws when we had chances to put the games to bed. At their place this season we did the same while last season we got destroyed in the League & got dumped out the FA Cup.

We did win there though in Graham Potter's last fixture against us in that Luis Diaz goal keeper wipeout match.. Another quality refereeing decision.. So why the lack of wins? Could it be Roberto De Zerbi being a managerial tactical genius? The Alexis Mac Allister factor? Or a bit of both..

De Zerbi has come in and done an amazing job although you feel the added European fixtures was a stretch too far for Brighton this season and has cost them in the league.. They sit eighth though with a game in hand and have a pretty tough run in. They could though have a say in the title race as they face Arsenal & City at home in the next few weeks.. Interesting..

Mac Allister's loss to Brighton has been well and truly our gain. If there was one player I personally wanted in the midfield re-shuffle it was him.. He is a revelation and one of the best midfielders in the world right now. He smashed it up in the Prem prior to signing for us as he also did in the World Cup. The cost.. Well.. Small change in todays market..

The recent games against Chelsea are especially of note for our number ten. Playing against his 100+million pound old (Brighton) and current (Argentina) team mates he just ran the show in the simplest way.. Positioning and decision making. His brain is ahead of anyones and when he has to deliver he does..

QUICK STAT CHECK Liverpool have Won 4, Drawn 1 & Lost 1 of their last 6 games.. Brighton have Won 3, Drawn 1 & Lost 2 in that time.. Both losses notably away. At Spurs & Fulham..

LIVERPOOL LINE UP

Kelleher, Bradley, Virg, Konate, Tsimikas, Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Nunez, Mo

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

This has been one of those seasons again for Liverpool with a huge injury list pretty much every week.. So let's get into it. Thiago & Matip are out for the season. Ali & Bajcetic could come in to contention mid April. Trent & Jota a week sooner possibly. While Curtis jones, Nunez & Robbo are touch and go for this one. They could feature but it might be a game too soon..

We will still set up strong for this one as the squad depth is just immense. The midfield three are solid and very quick in the tackle. The more they play together the better they will be. The back four again are solid and Kelleher has been in exceptional form for club and now country.

The forward line has been a problem for a while now if we are being brutally honest. Not that they don't score. They just don't seem fluent and often go missing. Funnily enough this was not the case when Mo was out the team. Yet that United FA Cup tie was a fine example of things not running so smooth. One goal from all those countless chances would have seen us over the line. 

But when they do click they are awesome.. So that front 3 selection is a nice little problem for Klopp and the next manager to tangle with.. The quick counters occur regularly it's just what they do when they get there. They don't seem to dominate opponents either. In possession and without it.. It's time to fire them up and go for the jugular.

Yet that midfield has all the ammo to make light work of this one.. The shots will be raining in..

OurLFC DANGERMAN  Alexis Mac Allister.. He should have a big say in this one..

BRIGHTON TEAM LINE UP

Verbruggen, Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan, Gross, Gilmour, Adingra, Encisco, Lallana, Wellbeck

BRIGHTON TEAM NEWS

Big misses for Brighton are Soli March & Mitoma. Hinshelwood & Joao Pedro are being assessed. While on a sentimental note James Milner will miss the game through injury. Brighton are not the team they were with Mac Allister & Caicedo. They have lost some real grit in that midfield. With the losses to key attacking players too they are a little light up top. Their defence though is pretty solid and the wing backs are really dynamic going forwards.

THE GAME

The same goes here as it does for every home game. We must come flying out the traps well and truly on that front foot. Don't give them an inch or any time on the ball. Dominate possession and when we lose it win it back quickly. Let's show that cutting edge in the final third and open them with the ease we know we can.

You could see a couple of really quick goals in this one ripping up a not so strong Brighton team and that in all seriousness could be that for them. They are good and well drilled but a lack of class could cost them in attack while our midfield should have them well on the back foot.

Their wing backs are a serious threat if they both start but with Bradley at right back that weakness has been sewn up down our right. He is just solid in defence and just as good going forwards. Tsimikas could come in for Robbo which gives us a nicer balance than when Joe plays there. Joe has been solid don't get me wrong but going forwards Tsimi delivers more.

So if we can get that quick lead it will be down to game management. Loads of possession, a bit more patience and try to pick them off with more controlled play. Hopefully adding a few more goals to the mix in the process.. 

PREDICTION.. 3-0 TO THEM MIGHTY REDS

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