Kelleher will be expected to weigh in with another telling performance. — AFP
BRIGHTON and Hove Albion have been kind of like a bogey team for Liverpool in the last few seasons.
In the last 10 games against the Seagulls in all competitions, the Reds have only managed to win three times and draw four times.
The statistics also do not look any better for the Merseyside club, as the last three home matches against Brighton ended with two draws and one defeat.
The last time Liverpool won against them at Anfield was in 2019.
Jurgen Klopp will be hopeful of banishing that ghost in his final season as Reds’ manager when they host Roberto De Zerbi’s team at Anfield this weekend.
And with only 10 league games left, it is also crucial for the Reds to get maximum points if they are to stand any chance of winning the Premier League trophy.
With Alisson Becker still out with an injury, Caoimhin Kelleher will continue to deputise in goal.
Andrew Robertson, who was injured again while representing Scotland in midweek, should be replaced by Joe Gomez at left back.
Ibrahima Konate, who also had an injury before the international break, was an unused substitute when France played Germany and could be fit to start alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Conor Bradley, who scored the only goal against Scotland while playing for Northern Ireland in midweek, would most likely start at right back.
In midfield, it should consist of Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, while the front three should be Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
Fortunately for Liverpool, Brighton’s form has been erratic this season, and they have been unable to string up a good run, largely due to the extra games they have to play, including their first participation in the UEFA Europa League.
And just two weeks ago, they were dumped out of the European competition after losing 4-1 in aggregate to AS Roma.
De Zerbi will be hopeful that his team, currently in eighth place, can now fully focus on climbing the Premier League table and qualifying for either the Europa League or Conference League.
Brighton does not seem to have any serious injury concerns, apart from Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma being long-term absentees.
De Zerbi will likely line up Bart Verbruggen, Tariq Lamptey, Lewis Dunk, Pervis Estupinan, Jan Paul van Hecke, Billy Gilmour, Pascal Gross, Simon Adingra, Adam Lallana, Julio Enciso and Danny Welbeck as the starting XI.
