Topic: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Liverpool Preview, PL, Sun 8th OCT, 14h

[mattD]

Ever since the opening Europa League fixture, Brighton have been a bit off haven't they?

Still though, they're a wounded animal at the moment, could be more dangerous than ever.

They are a properly good team regardless, probably the best run club in the Premier League. Fantastic football, fantastic players... a win under any scenario would be fantastic.

[sinnermichael]

A win would be massive considering we have a good run of fixtures after the international break. Everton (H), Forest (H), Luton (a), Brentford (H).

[disgraced cake]

A win would be massive considering we have a good run of fixtures after the international break. Everton (H), Forest (H), Luton (a), Brentford (H).

We should be beating all four of those. Even Brentford look crap this season.

[Bobinhood]

Looking forward to 15 good minutes before Allison gets a red for time wasting after he kicks one into touch by mistake and then looks at the ref astonished when he brandishes a yellow. 

[lindylou100]

I don’t know if I can look forward to this without wondering how the refs are going to fuck us over this week and every week since the season started.

[GreatEx]

Bring in Gravy for Curtis; keep the Mac-Szobo partnership going. Trent at RB, Darwin up front, win 5-2.

[The_Nomad]

Can we not concede please? It’ll probably make winning easier. 😅

[him_15]

3 points, no injury, no red card, and certainly no stupid referee or VAR decision. I am asking for too much?

[GreatEx]

I'd be happy with the first three, but if the refs fucked us over on top of that, we'd be able to keep the heat on without being labelled sore losers,  so bring it on, I say.

[WorldChampions]

Massive game, one or both of Arsenal/City will drop points later so we need to capitalise. Especially after being robbed last week, need to stay in touching distance of Spurs, whilst they will Spurs it at some point we don't need them getting a gap and riding the momentum like Arsenal did last season.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Liverpool are top of the league with Red cards (4)

Usually the team with the most red cards also gets the most yellow cards, as they are a dirty team.

Liverpool are 17th with yellow cards which shows it's the officials not the teams.

Additionally of the 4 red cards that Liverpool have receieved, the board have ruled that two of them were wrong. The other two were 'controversial'

Again, signalling that the officials are as bent as fuck. Way, way more bent than the Italian league ever was and that was obvious when you were watching it. Nowhere near as obvious as this league though.

Also Liverpool lead the way on disallowed goals. Liverpool also lead the way on the amount of time it takes English VAR to check for goals. They spend 78% longer on Liverpool goals than any other team.

[Slippers]

Champagne for everyone if we finish the game with eleven men.

[The G in Gerrard]

Liverpool also lead the way on the amount of time it takes English VAR to check for goals. They spend 78% longer on Liverpool goals than any other team.

Except for last Saturday the dickheads.

Anyway about the game. Is Trent starting and Gomez benched? Who replaces Jones in midfield? Think our strongest front 3 of Diaz, Nunez & Salah upfront?

[William Regal]

Think I'd be happier Gomez starting this, Mitoma had Trent on toast last season

[Fromola]

Ever since the opening Europa League fixture, Brighton have been a bit off haven't they?

Still though, they're a wounded animal at the moment, could be more dangerous than ever.

They are a properly good team regardless, probably the best run club in the Premier League. Fantastic football, fantastic players... a win under any scenario would be fantastic.

They're very feast or famine. They always turn up against us though.

Key last season for them was they just had a much better midfield than us which allowed them to play us off the park, but they enjoy playing against teams like us because it allows them to play the way they like in transitions. It's teams who sit back a bit and pick them off on the counter they have a problem with.

We can certainly get at them defensively but they will get in behind us as well.

[Fromola]

Liverpool are top of the league with Red cards (4)

Usually the team with the most red cards also gets the most yellow cards, as they are a dirty team.

Liverpool are 17th with yellow cards which shows it's the officials not the teams.

Additionally of the 4 red cards that Liverpool have receieved, the board have ruled that two of them were wrong. The other two were 'controversial'

Again, signalling that the officials are as bent as fuck. Way, way more bent than the Italian league ever was and that was obvious when you were watching it. Nowhere near as obvious as this league though.

Also Liverpool lead the way on disallowed goals. Liverpool also lead the way on the amount of time it takes English VAR to check for goals. They spend 78% longer on Liverpool goals than any other team.

Manc Kavanagh today on VAR. Newcastle away last season he spent about 10 minutes trying to rule two perfectly good Liverpool goals out.

They can never check quick enough when a goal goes in against us though.

[jillcwhomever]

Liverpool are top of the league with Red cards (4)

Usually the team with the most red cards also gets the most yellow cards, as they are a dirty team.

Liverpool are 17th with yellow cards which shows it's the officials not the teams.

Additionally of the 4 red cards that Liverpool have receieved, the board have ruled that two of them were wrong. The other two were 'controversial'

Again, signalling that the officials are as bent as fuck. Way, way more bent than the Italian league ever was and that was obvious when you were watching it. Nowhere near as obvious as this league though.

Also Liverpool lead the way on disallowed goals. Liverpool also lead the way on the amount of time it takes English VAR to check for goals. They spend 78% longer on Liverpool goals than any other team.

Can we just keep on football for this thread.

[keeby]

Just want fair refereeing, doubt it,ll happen mind, Brighton are a solid team, we will need to be at our best to get 3 points.

[BarryCrocker]

We'll be given a soft penalty and the world will move on.

[Fromola]

We'll be given a soft penalty and the world will move on.

If we do get a decision go our way today we'll be told it's all because we've bullied the officials by the media/other fans and then it'll be back to normal the week after for the full PGMOL backlash.

A decision may go against us today but they'll know all eyes are on them after last week, it won't be blatant.

Hopefully we win the game and the ref is an afterthought.

[Dr. Beaker]

We'll be given a soft penalty and the world will move on.

Only if we are already three or four up.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Think I'd be happier Gomez starting this, Mitoma had Trent on toast last season

We're in a very different place to where we were when we payed them last season. Make them worry about us rather than us worrying about them.

[Agent99]

Which game was it where Mac Allister and Dom basically played as a 2 in front of the back 4? I'd be fine with that and have Gravenberch come in for Jones. Gomez doesn't deserve to be dropped so bring Trent on later on in the game if required.

[Redman78]

We're in a very different place to where we were when we payed them last season. Make them worry about us rather than us worrying about them.

Surely there's a balance to be had though? Trent has been out for a considerable amount of time and it wouldn't be surprising to see him really struggle against Mitoma as a consequence. With the fact the Gomez has generally been really good at RB this season, and didn't start on Thursday, it's an interesting debate about who should start this one.

[Syntexity]

Dont know what to expect today, by that I mean what the officials will be upto. Brighton is a very difficult side to play, they are very frustrating to play against as they just keep the ball until you give up the pressing. Then they have the quality to beat you going forward. Especially Mitoma is a pain in the arse for us, Ferguson also a very talented player, and to top it off that Marsh fella seems to turn into Messi when playing us. They seems to struggle more against teams who can be organized and counter well, as well as physical and direct teams while yhey thrive more against teams who like to press and be attacking as they can exploit the spaces we leave.

At the same time we are much better than last year, even with the refs being more hellbent on keeping us from winning. I imagine with competent and unbiased refs we would be top of the league and have Curtis and Jota in the squad. Anyway, we just have to keep fighting and improving so that we can get back to our very best and competing for all major titles. Hopefully today we see our side at their best.

Come on Liverpool! YNWA!!!!

[Cafe De Paris]

Don’t concede first. Don’t concede in the first 5 minutes. Don’t do anything silly and give that wanker Taylor or his cronies anything to look at. We should be ok after that.

[Tobelius]

Don’t concede first. Don’t concede in the first 5 minutes. Don’t do anything silly and give that wanker Taylor or his cronies anything to look at. We should be ok after that.

This.Must start awake and we'll be ok bar the usual refereeing we get.

[StevoHimself]

So who's getting sent off today? I'll guess Endo.

[GreatEx]

Except for last Saturday the dickheads.

That's because the on-field call was offside.

[kavah]

Come on redmen 

[GreatEx]

So who's getting sent off today? I'll guess Endo.

Probably Trent, the refs will be fuming that he got away with being pushed into the advertising hoardings with only a yellow card.

[StevoHimself]

Probably Trent, the refs will be fuming that he got away with being pushed into the advertising hoardings with only a yellow card.

Trent is a good shout too

[Jookie]

What’s the team then?

Who plays alongside VvD? And who replaces Jones in midfield seem the obvious selection issues?

Not sure there’ll be many options off the bench to change the game. I wonder if he keeps Gravenberch and Elliott on the bench and starts Endo in this one.

[Red Beret]

Our team are mentality monsters. I alas am not. Feel like I'm one cruel, shitty, unjust decision away from jacking the whole thing in.

Brighton are formidable on their day, and like so many other teams, notorious game raisers against us. We should overcome them easily,  but I'm morbidly curious to see how we're stitched up this time.

[RedBec1993]

I’d start Gravenberch with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai today. He more than earned his spot with his performance on Thursday.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Probably Trent, the refs will be fuming that he got away with being pushed into the advertising hoardings with only a yellow card.

Yep. I think he'll be sent off for 'looking at the ref funny' and suddenly rule 182.89 Paragraph B will be found.

Never to be used again in the history of football.

[Slippers]

So who's getting sent off today? I'll guess Endo.

Darwin,but he'll go down in flames.

[RedBec1993]

Team has been leaked

Alisson
Trent
Matip
Virgil
Robbo

Mac Allister
Szoboszlai
Elliot

Diaz
Nunez
Salah


Would really have went for Endo as the 6 to allow Mac Allister to play further up. Or Gravenberch instead of Elliot. Especially after his performance midweek, expected him to start.

[Lynndenberries]

If Elliott is starting, he should be playing off the left. Him and Trent on the right is a recipe for disaster.

[RedBec1993]

If Elliott is starting, he should be playing off the left. Him and Trent on the right is a recipe for disaster.

That’s what I was thinking, apparently it’s a 442.