Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will be out for revenge against a high-flying Brighton side this Sunday in the fourth round fixture of the FA Cup.
The Reds were beaten 3-0 last time these two sides met in the Premier League with Brighton outclassing the Reds on home turf as Klopp’s men failed to escape their rut of form which has been on the show since the turn of the year.
Liverpool’s search for that elusive first win of 2023 came to an end with a narrow 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round replay following the 2-2 stalemate at Anfield.
Their last outing came in the nil-nil draw against the struggling Chelsea, in Klopp’s 1,000th game as a manager, with both teams earning a point apiece from the rather unexpected mid-table clash in league football although the Reds boss would have been the happier of the two managers with Liverpool not putting out a convincing display on home soil.
Brighton, meanwhile, had to rely upon Evan Ferguson’s header to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw against Leicester City which came on the back of a 5-1 trouncing of Middlesbrough to progress to round four of the FA Cup where they now welcome Liverpool to the south coast.
Roberto De Zerbi’s men have been ruthless in their attacking endeavors and the win over Boro was an indication of why the Liverpool backline, which is without its mainstay Virgil van Dijk due to the Dutchman’s hamstring injury, could be in for trouble on their travels.
Back-to-back clean sheets, however, will be comforting to the Liverpool faithful who have seen their side fall victim to increasing concerns on the injury front with the likes of Van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota still on the sidelines.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Sunday 29 January 2023
Time: 3 PM GMT
Venue: American Express Community Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Jurgen Klopp is not expected to ring in major changes to his XI for the FA Cup clash against Brighton as the Liverpool manager looks to steer his side back to winning ways.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Darwin Nunez could be in line for earning recalls after the duo were benched against Chelsea last time out.
Virgil van Dijk, Arthur, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino all remain long-term injury-enforced absentees for the Reds.
KEY BATTLE
Alexis Mac Allister vs Cody Gakpo
Brighton’s World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister put out a terrific showing in the FA Cup third round win over Boro with the Argentine bagging a brace to help his side to a thumping win.
He could prove to be the difference maker for the south coast outfit against Liverpool who will hope for January signing Cody Gakpo to rediscover his red-hot form in front of the goal which earned him the big-money move to Anfield earlier this month from PSV.
MATCH PREDICTION
Liverpool will have a stern challenge awaiting them in the fourth round game away at Brighton who are the slight favourites due to their recent run of good form.
Brighton 2-1 Liverpool
