According to ILNA, two of England's most in-form teams meet on Sunday in the Premier League at Anfield. Both clubs have won four of their last five matches in all competitions, but it is Brighton who sit above their hosts in the Premier League table. An exceptional start to the season has brought 16 points and a stunning 3-0 win over Arsenal, the defending champions, while the Reds have taken only 12 points from their seven games.
Liverpool's recent wins have not been flawless and stem mostly from the defensive line. They have conceded three goals from LASK and Villarreal in their last two European games, and also benefited from a numerical advantage on the pitch last week in their comeback win over Brentford.
Brighton have been far more convincing, despite last Thursday's goalless draw against Czech side Jablonec in the Conference League. The thumping 5-0 win over traditional rivals Crystal Palace last Sunday was their sixth consecutive victory in all competitions; a run in which they have scored 22 goals and conceded only two.
Prediction; a thrilling draw at Anfield
This match will probably be very attractive because two teams with frightening attacking potential face each other. Brighton have scored a stunning 23 goals in this season's Premier League matches – more than any other team in the first seven weeks – and while Liverpool have scored only nine goals in this competition, they have found the net 15 times in their four matches in the League Cup and the Champions League.
While Brighton's defensive line has been remarkably impenetrable – they currently have five consecutive clean sheets – Liverpool have shown less discipline and organization, as conceding three goals in three of their last four games testifies. Both head coaches demand high-intensity, attacking football, which we hope will lead to an end-to-end, heated match.
Head-to-head history: Brighton have lost their last four visits to Anfield, but among them they have also recorded home wins in three of the last four seasons. The Seagulls have been a thorn in Liverpool's side since promotion to the Premier League, although the current momentum will favor the hosts.
Liverpool's home problems: The Reds have gone six months without a home win in the Premier League and may, for the fourth time in their history, start a season without a win in any of their first four home games.
Brighton's attacking stars: Fabian Hurzeler's men travel north with great belief, especially in attack. Pascal Gross, with seven goal involvements in the league, has been the architect of their success so far, but players such as Charalampos Kostoulas (5) and Maxim De Cuyper (4) have also supported him well.
- Prediction: Liverpool 2 – 2 Brighton
Liverpool's probable lineup against Brighton
Iraola faces a host of injuries for hosting Brighton, including long-term absentees such as Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike. But Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong have also recently entered the treatment room and neither is available for this sensitive match. According to Iraola, Victor Munoz is also in doubt after missing the mid-season win over Villarreal due to a knock.
Bradley Barcola missed training on Thursday so Liverpool could manage his condition, but Iraola confirmed that he will be available for the game against Brighton.
He may come into the lineup on the left wing and replace Cody Gakpo. Ryan Gravenberch, after missing the match against Brentford due to suspension, is once again available in the Premier League. He will pair with the ready Alexis Mac Allister in the defensive midfield role. Milos Kerkez, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will all return to the starting lineup after being on the bench in the match against Villarreal.
Liverpool's probable lineup (4-2-3-1):
Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak
Brighton's probable lineup against Liverpool
Hurzeler made widespread changes for the European trip to the Czech Republic on Thursday and only Gross, Bart Verbruggen and Olivier Boscagli are likely to keep their place at Anfield. Brighton may enter the field unchanged from their thumping win over Palace, with the match's scorers Kostoulas, Diego Gomez and Yasin Ayari among the players returning to the lineup.
In the defensive line and injuries, Brighton are still without a wide range of players, including Yankuba Minteh, a Liverpool transfer target. His fellow wingers Kaoru Mitoma, Femi Aziz and Zadok Yohana remain sidelined and injured. Evan Ferguson, Stefanos Tzimas and Mats Wieffer are long-term absentees, but there is a possibility that Pascal Struijk will be freed from injury in the defensive line.
Brighton's probable lineup (4-2-3-1):
Verbruggen; Kadioglu, Vuskovic, Dunk, Boscagli; Gross, Chema; Gomez, Ayari, De Cuyper; Kostoulas
Match information
- Venue: Liverpool, England
- Stadium: Anfield
- Date: Sunday, October 25
- Kick-off time: 17:30 Tehran time
- Referee: Sam Barrott
- Video referee (VAR): Michael Oliver
Source: ILNA News Agency
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