MatchThe opposition lowdown: Brighton & Hove Albion
Opposition view
Derren Howard, Brighton sports editor at National World…
On Brighton's season so far…
A very solid eight out of 10. Sixth in the Premier League with 16 points from nine matches is good going for Hurzeler in his first season. Brighton invested heavily during the summer with more than £200 million spent on the likes of Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Ferdi Kadioglu. It has given Hurzeler plenty of attacking options from the bench – something they perhaps lacked in the past few seasons.
On the style of play under Hurzeler…
It has not changed drastically from Roberto De Zerbi's team of last season but Minteh and the fit-again Kaoru Mitoma now offers Hurzeler's team plenty of pace in wide areas. The high defensive line was the most notable change in tactics from the German head coach, but that has been adapted slightly following their chaotic 4-2 loss at Chelsea in September.
On their standout players…
Danny Welbeck. The 33-year-old is playing some of the best football of his career and the former Manchester United and Arsenal man has six goals already this term. He tends to play higher up the pitch these days and he has formed a good partnership with Rutter, who arrived from Leeds for £40 million. Carlos Baleba is also well worth a mention. He's the main man in Brighton's midfield this term, having joined from Lille for around £20 million in 2023. Very powerful, athletic and likes a shot from distance.
Predicted line-up…
Verbruggen, Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Ayari, Mitoma, Rutter, Welbeck.
Team news
Brighton could be boosted by the return of Joao Pedro and Matt O'Riley from injury, though assessments will continue to be made on Kadioglu, Minteh and Lewis Dunk.
Solly March, James Milner and Adam Webster are set to remain sidelined.
Previous meetings
The two teams quickly meet again after Wednesday's round-four clash in the Carabao Cup, won by Arne Slot's side 3-2 at Amex Stadium.
In this fixture in the Premier League last season, goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah saw the Reds come from behind to win 2-1.
That was on the back of a 2-2 draw on the south coast last October, with Salah providing both of the visitors' goals.
What they said
Hurzeler, Brighton head coach
"I didn't experience how they [Liverpool] are at Anfield. When you play at home and you have these amount of fans behind you, it pushes you. That's why you can't say that it will be the same game.
"It will be a different game, it will be a different atmosphere. In the end, it's a game, 11 against 11 with one ball and the referee, and we try again to focus on our style of play."
Pre-match stats
Liverpool haven't lost a home Premier League game in the month of November since 2015 (1-2 v Crystal Palace), winning 12 of their 13 such matches since then.
Victory here would see Slot pick up the most wins by a Reds boss in their first 10 top-flight games in charge.
Brighton have taken five points from their last four league games at Anfield – more than they managed in their first 11 visits.
Salah has been involved in 15 goals in 14 Premier League appearances against Brighton, scoring nine and assisting six. Only against Manchester United (18) has he had a hand in more goals in the competition.
Brighton have had more different goalscorers than any other side in the Premier League this season (nine, excluding own goals). Welbeck has scored six of these, while his next strike will see him become the Seagulls' joint-highest goalscorer in the competition (30, level with Pascal Gross).
