Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League preview, team news and prediction

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All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah when Liverpool host Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Saturday afternoon in a Premier League clash filled with intriguing storylines. Both the Reds and the Seagulls are eager to bounce back after dropping points last weekend—Liverpool against Leeds United and Brighton against West Ham United.

Salah’s future at Liverpool remains a major talking point, with speculation swirling over whether he has already played his final game for the club. Accusations have been made that Liverpool have ‘thrown him under the bus,’ and manager Arne Slot is said to have “no relationship” with the Egyptian star. Debate continues over whether Salah should have been left out of Liverpool’s last three league matches, including the recent 3-3 draw with Leeds. Few would argue, however, that Salah has struggled to reach his usual high standards this season, posting his lowest per-90 averages for Liverpool in shots (2.6), shots on target (0.8), and touches in the opposition box (7.3).

Defensively, Salah ranks last among 45 wide forwards who have played at least 270 Premier League minutes this season for tracking back into his own half. He was also omitted from the squad for Liverpool’s controversial 1-0 Champions League victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday—a decision that raised eyebrows.

While Liverpool still have work to do in Europe to secure automatic progression to the last 16, their hopes of retaining the Premier League title have all but faded. A run of just two wins from their last 10 league games has left them 10th in the table, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal, though they remain just three points off fourth place. The Reds have collected only 23 points and conceded 24 goals in their opening 15 league matches—both the worst records by a reigning champion since Leicester City’s 2016-17 campaign (16 points, 26 conceded). Defensive woes have plagued Liverpool, who have let in 48 goals in 35 Premier League matches in 2025; only twice before have they conceded 50 or more in a calendar year (51 in 2012, 52 in 2014).

On the bright side, Liverpool have lost just one of their eight Premier League home games against Brighton. However, that defeat came the only other time they faced Brighton as reigning champions—a 1-0 loss in February 2021.

Brighton, meanwhile, missed the chance to break into the top four after a lackluster 1-1 draw with West Ham United last weekend, despite Chelsea’s draw with Bournemouth opening the door. The Seagulls struggled for creativity, recording all four of their shots on target after the 89th minute, including Georginio Rutter’s late equaliser that salvaged a point at the Amex Stadium.

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler admitted his side “did not deserve” more than a point, citing a lack of energy and intensity. Brighton now sit eighth in the table, level on points with Liverpool and three behind fourth-placed Crystal Palace.

As they approach a busy festive period, Brighton are seeking their first Premier League win in December in nine attempts (D5 L3). Hurzeler has managed victories in every other month in charge except the final one of the year. On the road, Brighton have kept back-to-back clean sheets in their last two away matches and will be aiming for three in a row for the first time since March–July 2020. The Seagulls are also looking to secure consecutive league wins over Liverpool for the first time, having edged a 3-2 victory in their last meeting at the Amex in May.

Liverpool will be without Cody Gakpo (undisclosed issue), Giovanni Leoni (ACL injury), and Conor Bradley (suspension). Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring), Federico Chiesa (illness), and Wataru Endo (undisclosed) are all doubtful and will be assessed prior to kickoff.

Mohamed Salah, who has an impressive record of 10 goals and seven assists in his last 18 appearances against Brighton, remains a question mark for the squad—this could be his final game before departing for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.

Dominik Szoboszlai, fresh off his match-winning penalty against Inter, has arguably been Liverpool’s standout player this season and could continue on the right side of midfield if Salah is left out again. In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, and Ryan Gravenberch are all pushing for starting spots, while Joe Gomez is likely to continue at right-back in Bradley’s absence. A potential recall for Florian Wirtz could see either Hugo Ekitike or Alexander Isak drop out of the starting lineup.

For Brighton, Stefanos Tzimas, Solly March, and Adam Webster (all knee injuries), along with James Milner (muscle), remain unavailable, with Tzimas expected to be out for several months. Kaoru Mitoma, sidelined since late September with an ankle injury, will continue to be monitored, as will Yasin Ayari (muscle) and Tom Watson (unspecified), who are both doubtful.

If Ayari is passed fit, he will compete with Diego Gomez and Jack Hinshelwood for a place in central midfield alongside Carlos Baleba. Meanwhile, Georginio Rutter is expected to keep his spot behind striker Danny Welbeck after netting his first Premier League goal of the season with his 19th attempt last weekend.

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