Topic: MATCH PREVIEW - Liverpool v Brighton, 31st March 2024, 14:00

[Zlen]

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
Sunday, 31st March 2024, 14:00 GMT, Anfield
Referee: David Coote
Assistants: Tim Wood, Mark Scholes
Fourth official: Craig Pawson
VAR: Paul Tierney, Assistant VAR: Dan Cook

Really, the preview for this game could be as short as saying 'Just win'. That's about it, nothing else matters. No tactics, injuries, excuses - nothing matters. Nothing in the world will matter once it kicks off - just win, just score more goals than Brighton, however they come, whenever they come, whoever scores them. Break legs, records, hearts, norms, cheat, lie , die - just win. With our direct rivals battling it out after this game, we simply must win here to reap the rewards. If we do, any outcome on Etihad will be positive. Just win.


They have our number?
Looking at all games played against Brighton, we have won 20 out of 39 games, losing 7 and drawing the other 12. Not the best record to be honest, but if we focus on recent encounters it looks even worse because we have failed to win in last four games against them. Even more concerning, last two games at Anfield were both draws, 3-3 in 2022 and 2-2 in 2021. Nothing about this game should spark even a hint of complacency. Nothing about it should make anyone think we're in for anything but a properly hard game of football. One where we will have to earn everything, play with high levels of concentration for 90 minutes and show we deserve the three points. This is one of only five remaining home PL games at Anfield, don't let it go to waste.

Brighton come to Anfield in respectable 8th place, having collected 7/15 points in their last five PL games. In the last PL game they narrowly won against Nottingham Forest (own goal), washing away the bad taste of unexpected 3-0 defeat to Fulham in the preceding game. They are still without Solomon March, Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood, though Milner might be available for this one. If there is one thing we can say for certain about their recent form, it's that they are not scoring much. If we exclude the own goal against Forest, they've only scored three goals in their last six games in all competitions since they thrashed Sheffield in late February. I'm sure this is what they've worked on the most during the international break.

International break you say
Well, obviously we have had to lose some players to pointless international friendlies. Where would we all be if this wasn't the case? This time it's Andy and we don't yet know the extent of his injury, or if he will be available for this game. I'll safely assume he won't - because that's our luck most of the time. Some like Szobo got some valuable minutes in their legs, so hopefully it all proverbially balances out. Like fuck it will. But all said, we can't complain too much about the state of our side right now. Considering where we were few weeks ago, things are looking better. We are still without Trent, Ali, Jones and Jota - which isn't great, but Konate is hopefully ready to play, Gravenberch already is and Mo and Szobo are in better shape than before the break. You'll find few who hate international football more than me, but I'd say this break for once came at the right time for us to patch things up.

There is the flip side to it. We often don't look so hot straight after a midseason break, but that would qualify as a sorry-ass excuse and we don't have time for those right now. So they all better be ready from minute one, because this here - this is it.

Do I fucking care?
This is my mood right now.
Summed up in one picture, for those familiar with wonderful video for Audiobullys hit.
Sink or swim.



David Coote and Tierney combined?
I don't care.

Heavy legs and groggy after inter-continental flights?
I don't care.

They scored early and we got a man sent off?
I don't care.

Putin decided to use nuclear weapons at half-time?
I don't care.

This is it.
Right now.
We're in the final stretch with Jurgen.
We have it our hands.

Take it.
Win.

[Qston]

That last bit......THIS IS SPARTA

Cheers Zlen. Thank god the international break is over and I can enjoy some footy again. Win, win, win.

[sheepfest]

Coote again ffs.

Carried on reading and like you say who cares and This Is It.

Ta Zlen.

[Gus 1855]

Such a big game, got to get back in the groove.

Interesting to see what comes out of training this week.

Konate the most notable returnee I'd imagine.

Will be nice to possibly get another one or two back to give us options.

Robbo the only concern from International duty I think.

[amir87]

These fuckers always cause us a problem at Anfield. About time we beat them comprehensively.

[9 kemlyn road]

These fuckers always cause us a problem at Anfield. About time we beat them comprehensively.

They’ve caused us a few problems since they’ve been back in the top flight these last few years.
Also remember being at anfield when they knocked us out the fifth round of the cup in 83 .a Jimmy case thunderbolt no less ,great goal .
Our first ever game played on a Sunday I believe.

[DelTrotter]

Def owe these a twatting, hard to predict the team with the international knock(s) and probably training injuries to come yet. Hopefully beat them then can sit back and enjoy laughing at whoever fucks up in the City game. Be nice if this game could be a game where a "human error" from an "incompetent" official doesn't benefit our opponent like it did in the reverse game (twice).

[redbyrdz]

That last bit......THIS IS SPARTA

Cheers Zlen. Thank god the international break is over and I can enjoy some footy again. Win, win, win.

Could do with it being Sparta

[RogerTheRed]

Come on Redmen!!
As you say Zlen, plenty to be aware of, what with them, international footie and the joke line up of dodgy officials.
We need to win, that has to be the team talk. Go hard, get two up and kill the game.
Despite the new injury I am hoping Salah and Nunez benefit from the break and look forward to hearing who else returns. Tsimikas should be OK for a home match and will add crossing skills.
Can’t get a ticket so will watch from home. Expecting a 2-0 win.

[Pistolero]

11 vs 14 ......but we can still do this..........Scouse Power

[Davidbowie]

Kelleher

Bradley
Konate
VVD
Gomez

Endo
MacAllister
Szoboszlai

Salah
Nunez
Diaz

[alonsoisared]

Nice write up, Zlen. It's a massive weekend. I'm confident of beating them, we tend to do better when teams open up against us. There is that niggling doubt that they could catch us cold after the break, it's vital that we start strong.

We'll end the weekend top IMO.

[medley]

I've pretty much wiped our last game outing from my memory but I was also a little bit drunk watching it at the time too which helps things. With that in mind it feels like forever since I've watched the lads play. We should have too much for these but you never quite know after international week how everyone is going to perform. I'm hoping a lot Brighton's players have travelled half way around the world to play the games as well as ours

[Nick110581]

Hopefully Jones is back for this.

[Qston]

Could do with it being Sparta

Good point 

[Crosby Nick]

Odd team Brighton. After a great start to the season they’ve been fairly average (like proper mid table form) for a few months. But they do worry me slightly that they’re the sort of team who can just click again, and they often seem to improve against better opposition.

We definitely owe them. We absolutely have to win our home games here. Does feel hard to win all ten, but I’d say the same for the other two as well. But not dropping points in game you feel we should be winnning is crucial so we just have to get it done on Sunday. I’m then out for a family thing so as long as we win, I won’t even watch the other game, safe in the knowledge that at least one of them will drop points.

[Barneylfc∗]

Brighton have had a few players on international duty too

Verbruggen
Dunk
Estupinian
Lamptey
Buonanotte
Gilmore
Gross
Adingra
Ferguson

No idea if they picked up any injuries.

[Crosby Nick]

Brighton have had a few players on international duty too

Verbruggen
Dunk
Estupinian
Lamptey
Buonanotte
Gilmore
Gross
Adingra
Ferguson

No idea if they picked up any injuries.

Minutes please!

I think Enciso is back for them isn’t he? Did well at the end of last season.

[disgraced cake]

We should be victorious here given how much more the game means to us, you only have to look at some of the sides beating Brighton this season and the manner they've done it in, they've taken a few hidings. International break hasn't gone too badly for us besides Robertson hobbling off, and everyone being finished by yesterday through to Sunday afternoon is enough rest.

Kelleher
Bradley   Konate   VVD   Gomez
Endo   Mac Allister   Szoboszlai
Salah   Nunez   Diaz

Hopefully Jones and Trent aren't far away amongst a couple of others, will possibly see Gravenberch at some stage too. All going well might even be able to make a couple of changes for the visit of Sheffield United in the week, the likes of Quansah/Gravenberch etc. Fast start here hopefully matched by some good energy in the crowd beginning a big run in across the league and Europe. Reckon Salah is going to be in the zone after a couple of weeks off, he knows he can carry us across the line. If we can end the weekend top I'm very excited to see where it takes us.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Up the Reds.

Hopefully get the first bit of actual not shite officiating for pretty much the first time this season.


They both went in high. Nothing we can do. He caught the ball and ran off with it spinning it on his finger while singing the Harlem Globetrotters Theme. He's punched it off for a corner in the area, seems fine to me. He slipped and didn't stamp on his ankle at all. Good process, boys.

[Zlen]

They both went in high. Nothing we can do. He caught the ball and ran off with it spinning it on his finger while singing the Harlem Globetrotters Theme. He's punched it off for a corner in the area, seems fine to me. He slipped and didn't stamp on his ankle at all. Good process, boys.

I truly admire how relentless your hatred of these twats is.

[Lfc19ynwa]

Up the Reds.

Hopefully get the first bit of actual not shite officiating for pretty much the first time this season.

With Coote reffing & Tierney on VAR , think that ship has already sailed

[Raid]

Thanks for the OP as always, Zlen.

Thank God we are back. Internationals make it a long two weeks and it's been even fucking longer waiting to put the let off we gave United to bed.

A convincing win to set up the Abu Dhabi v Arsenal game please. Would suspect we'll return to the summit with a win.

[mkingdon]

It feels like we could really do with an undramatic "routine" win here. It feels like we've been through a lot of drama recently in games so an early goal plus a couple of others throughout the game, putting these to the sword with no fuss would be lovely.

[exiledintheUSA]

They have been poor recently; I fully expect them to turn into World beaters for 100 minutes.

That said, I would expect 2 wins and +8 goals from our next 2 games.

[tubby]

They're one of the best teams in the league at playing through a high press but they're still fully capable of shitting the bed when playing out at the same time.  We really should have too much for them and Dunk had a bit of a mare for England so might be on edge.

[Fromola]

De Zerbi always turns up against us, one of them managers who knows how to make it difficult for us, but will embarrass themselves against shite like Everton. We do play into his hands.

Post-international break, early kick off, it'll probably be a slow burner. We'll need the crowd to step up again.

We need to tighten up though as Brighton can easily play through a press and be in behind. The amount of good chances we gifted United last week was a joke. Two passes and they were clean through.

Just need to get a win anyhow while we wait for more players to return.

[AndyMuller]

Just fucking win.

[G Richards]

Crucial that we win this one, then we can watch Arsenal v Man City knowing there is a silver lining whatever that result. Ideally we leapfrog back to the top of the league, and then go on a winning run with the finish line almost starting to come into focus.

Good write up in the OP, cheers!

And yes, they do seem to have our number, and we drop too many points against them. Time to put that right with a routine win. No drama. No injuries. But a two goal buffer please, so we are free and clear of getting robbed by the officials.

Kelleher
Bradley Konate VVD Gomez
Szobo Endo Mac Allister
Salah Nunez Diaz

[Jookie]

Brighton have been a bit of a bogey team for us recently. 1 win in 8 against them and not sure we’ve beaten them at home since 2019.

Needs to change this weekend.

[Yorkykopite]

Captured the mood nicely Zlen.

We have players coming back, we have coming-back players getting fitter. It's what makes me a little bit confident. It'd be lovely to get the first goal though. And the second and third.

[stockdam]

Thanks Zlen and you reminded me of a great musical performance of "Nothing Else Matters"...............watch Miley Cyrus and Metallica on the Howard Stern Show (she's actually a fantastic singer).

Anyway, this is a must win game and in reality we should have too much strength especially at home. I'm glad that Mitoma won't be available as he always seems to play well against us.

Salah and Szoboszlai being fully fit will be great. Bradley, Konate, VVD and Gomez have been brilliant recently as has Mac Allister. Add Nunez (if fit), Diaz, Wataru and Elliott and we have a very strong squad even with the injuries. Is Gravenberch ok to play?

Let's put them under pressure from the kickoff and win.

[Realgman]

Great OP Zlen,
No guarantees, and absolutely no (in my opinion) room for anything less than a win at home here.
Hope Robbo is ok, but we do have cover from players doing ok in that position anyway... What was Clarke thinking, using his own captain for all the minutes in friendlies? On the plus side, Kellehers one game for Ireland against Belgium ended in  a draw, where he was brilliant.
Must win.

[Barneylfc∗]

Minutes please!

I think Enciso is back for them isn’t he? Did well at the end of last season.

Verbruggen 90 mins v Germany
Dunk 114 mins - 24 v Brazil, 90 v Belgium
Estupinian 90 mins v Italy
Lamptey 71 mins - 45 v Nigeria, 26 v Uganda
Buonanotte 26 mins v El Salvador
Gilmore 136 mins - 67 v Netherlands, 69 v Northern Ireland
Gross 32 mins v Netherlands
Adingra 90 mins - 62 v Benin, 28 v Uruguay
Ferguson 159 mins - 69 v Belgium, 90 v Switzerland

Enciso has played in Brighton's last 6 games

[disgraced cake]

How are Milner and Lallana faring this season? Squad players I'd presume. Good if Mitoma is out, Adingra playing well recently but hopefully able to keep him quiet at Anfield. Even if it clicks a bit for Brighton going forward I don't expect them to have much joy, I think they can do with the end of this season a bit sooner than others. Smartest thing for De Zerbi would be staying on next season instead of jumping for a job he probably isn't ready for.

[TepidT2O]

My first time in the new upper Annie road.  Can’t wait.

[Nick110581]

Brighton have been a bit of a bogey team for us recently. 1 win in 8 against them and not sure we’ve beaten them at home since 2019.

Needs to change this weekend.

1 win
3 for them (one in FA Cup)
4 draws - 2 at home and 2 away including the one in Covid where Welbeck won a penalty when Robbo won the ball.

We haven't beaten them at home since 2019. Lost when no fans there and last two were draws.

[Fromola]

1 win
3 for them (one in FA Cup)
4 draws - 2 at home and 2 away including the one in Covid where Welbeck won a penalty when Robbo won the ball.

We haven't beaten them at home since 2019. Lost when no fans there and last two were draws.

We can write off those never ending games against them (and Wolves) in Jan-Feb last year because we were fucking hopeless at the time.

It's more their last two games at Anfield. That 3-3 last season and the 2-2 the season before. Throwing the games away with an inability to control the game and allowing Brighton to play through us. It's rare anyone does that at Anfield, let alone two seasons in a row.

[rawcusk8]

We can write off those never ending games against them (and Wolves) in Jan-Feb last year because we were fucking hopeless at the time.

It's more their last two games at Anfield. That 3-3 last season and the 2-2 the season before. Throwing the games away with an inability to control the game and allowing Brighton to play through us. It's rare anyone does that at Anfield, let alone two seasons in a row.

That’s it mate get it off your chest, don’t bottle things up and hold on to them for too long.

[kop306]

kelleher

bradley konate VVD gomez

sobo endo grav

mo nunez diaz