Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will hope to return to winning ways in the Premier League this Saturday when they welcome Brighton to Anfield.
It has been an extended break for the Merseysiders who last took the field on 14th September against Ajax in the Champions League group stage fixture which was won by Liverpool in a narrow 2-1 scoreline.
Jordan Henderson and Co. will be looking to clinch three points from the upcoming outing and move up the league standings after what has been a shaky start to the new season from them which has seen them secure just one win in top flight action from six games.
In wake of the postponement of their league fixtures against Chelsea and Wolves, this will be Liverpool’s first Premier League match in nearly a month and the home support should boost the morale of the Liverpool players to put out a solid showing.
Injuries to key players early on in the season had hampered Liverpool’s prospects of fielding their strongest XI on paper with the likes of Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones on the sidelines with fitness troubles.
Saturday’s contest at Anfield would be Brighton’s first match under their new head coach Roberto De Zerbi who takes over from the now-Chelsea boss Graham Potter with the former expected to have a tough task on his hands as his side takes on Liverpool away from home turf.
Brighton’s last outing, almost four weeks back, turned out to be Potter’s final time in charge of the club before his move to Chelsea in a thumping 5-2 win over Leicester City.
WHEN & WHERE?
#LIVBHA Focus 🔛 pic.twitter.com/u2rtr8mcl5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 29, 2022
Date: Saturday 1 October 2022
Time: 7 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool will have to do without the services of first-choice left-back Andy Robertson who faces a spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury.
Robertson’s absence opens the door for Greek international Kostas Tsimikas to provide cover in the left full-back role with The Reds likely to go ahead with Joel Matip in the centre-back role alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher, who have failed to make a single matchday squad this season owing to injuries, could all be available for selection with Jurgen Klopp expected to make a decision over the trio’s fitness levels.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain unavailable but skipper Jordan Henderson could be handed a starting berth following his return to the field for England during the recent international break.
KEY BATTLE
Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Solly March
Liverpool’s ever-present full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has had a difficult few weeks after his patchy run of form in the Reds shirt led to his exclusion from the England fold.
He would be hoping to return to his brilliant best on both the attacking and defensive front as Brighton’s wide player Solly March will look to give him a tough time.
MATCH PREDICTION
Despite their stuttering form early on in the Premier League campaign, we tip Liverpool to bounce back from the lows and clinch the three points against Brighton this Saturday.
Liverpool 3-1 Brighton
