Liverpool vs Brighton: Preview and Predictions for Round 10 in the Premier League!

“Long time, no see” does not apply for Liverpool vs Brighton, as the two sides met just this week at the AMEX Stadium, in the EFL Cup. The Reds eliminated Brighton in a 3-2 game, with a brace from Cody Gakpo and a late goal by Luis Diaz. Gakpo, Diaz and Szoboszlai were the only usual starters for Liverpool in this match, as both teams played with heavily changed lineups to avoid unnecessary fatigue or injuries.

Heading to Anfield, the Seagulls will look to overturn this result and break into the top 5 positions, while Liverpool aim to keep pace at the Premier League summit. The EFL Cup was a dress rehearsal. Now it’s opening night.

Liverpool vs Brighton Live Stats

Follow real-time stats for Liverpool vs. Brighton, including the main events and lineups! The data is updated every minute!

Current Form and Standings

Liverpool is just one point away from the current leaders, Manchester City. Arne Slot’s season so far has been a dream, with the only defeat coming in a lethargic game from the Reds against Nottingham Forest. Other than the draw with Arsenal, and the aforementioned defeat, it was all green for Arne Slot and Liverpool this season.

Things are going well for Brighton, as they too only tasted defeat once this season. And for them, it came in a spectacular 4-2 defeat against Chelsea. Or, better said, in a spectacular 4-2 defeat against Cole Palmer. Currently, Brighton sits in the 6th spot, just one point below the top 5 positions.

Brighton’s Dangerous Free Kicks

Set pieces will be one important aspect to watch in this game. Especially free kicks, where the Seagulls are one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Liverpool is a powerhouse in the air. With towering presences such as Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, they are in safe hands in their aerial duels. The Reds rank in the first position on the percentage of won aerial duels. Both Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are in the top 10 for aerial duels won. So far, they received only one goal coming from a set piece this season.

Brighton’s set-piece threat remains one of their key weapons this season. While Arsenal’s routines may grab more headlines, the Seagulls’ effectiveness matches their London rivals. The Seagulls have scored four times from a set piece and generate an average of 4,4 shots per game from those situations. Liverpool needs to pay attention and not foul in dangerous areas. They have the league’s best defense, receiving only 5 goals and keeping 5 clean sheets.

Through Balls and Individual Errors

Liverpool might not be the biggest fans of the through ball. Brighton definitely is not. They are struggling with defending against through balls. A common theme for teams that use aggressive pressing shape as a simple positioning mistake can leave the line open for a pass that bypasses the lines. Brighton and Ipswich Town are the biggest victims of through balls this season, with opponents attempting 26 line-breaking passes against these two teams. While Liverpool is not a team that heavily employs this pass, they might rely on it to break through the pressing.

Another aspect where Liverpool might profit is from individual errors. So far, The Seagulls made 5 mistakes leading to a goal. Almost half of the goals received by Brighton could have been avoided if not for those mistakes. Another interesting statistic is that Brighton is falling to dribbles. On average, they are bypassed 10 times per game from dribbles. And Liverpool has dribbles. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will try to take on Brighton’s defenders and cut inside.

Liverpool vs Brighton Predictions

With recent performances strong, Liverpool seek to keep pressure on league leaders. The OPTA Supercomputer predicts a whopping 64,1% chance to get the three points at Anfield. But do not overlook Brighton. They made a spectacular comeback against Tottenham, so Liverpool will need to stay focused the entire game and not leave Brighton space and hope for a comeback.

Here are a few tips and predictions to consider:

• Liverpool to win or draw: Liverpool appear well-positioned to emerge undefeated from this contest. They have not lost to the Seagulls in their last 6 encounters. Historically, there were only three times when Brighton got three points from Liverpool.
• Over 2,5 goals or BTTS: Both teams have great offensive powers. Liverpool scored 17 goals this season, while Brighton is not far behind with 16 goals. In their last six games, we saw over 2,5 goals, and in five, both teams scored. So, based on their performance so far, we can expect to see some goals.
• Shots on Target: Mohamed Salah averages 2 shots on target per game, being the second best player in the league behind Erling Haaland. For Brighton, Danny Welbeck averages 1,3 shots on target. While the odds for Mohamed Salah having one shot on target are fairly low, you can use it as a bet to boost your accumulator odds.