AFTER beating Galatasaray 4-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarter‑finals in midweek, Liverpool now turn their attention to Brighton & Hove Albion today.
The Reds were impressive and assertive against the Turkish champions, playing with a level of intensity reminiscent of Jurgen Klopp’s “heavy‑metal” football.
It is exactly this tempo that supporters want to see every week – and will hope to see more of today again.
The question, however, is whether Liverpool can reproduce that level of energy so soon after such a demanding performance. With only two days of recovery time, Arne Slot will be hoping the window is enough before the trip to the American Express Stadium.
The reality is that Liverpool have not been consistent enough this season to suggest they can sustain that standard.
They have struggled at times against teams near the bottom of the table, and there remains a degree of scepticism as to why their supporters will not yet confidently declare that “we are back”.
Some rotation is likely, but several key players should retain their places. Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz are expected to start. Mohamed Salah, who requested to be substituted in midweek, will need to be assessed, while Cody Gakpo, a second‑half substitute against Galatasaray, should return to the First XI.
Brighton, with no midweek commitments, should be fresher and better prepared. Their morale will also have been boosted by last week’s 1-0 win over Sunderland. Fabian Hürzeler has a strong squad available, with only Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas sidelined long‑term.
Bart Verbruggen is expected to start in goal, with Mats Wieffer, and Olivier Boscagli, Jan Paul van Hecke and Ferdi Kadıoglu forming the defensive line. Carlos Baleba and Pascal Grob should anchor the midfield, while Yankuba Minteh, Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez support Georginio Rutter in attack.
Liverpool, currently fifth on 49 points, have beaten Brighton twice this season, 3-0 in the FA Cup in February and 2-0 in the league in December, both at Anfield. Their last visit to the Amex, however, ended in a 3-2 defeat in May 2025.
If Liverpool can replicate the intensity shown in midweek, they have every chance of taking all three points. But if the side that laboured to a draw against Tottenham last week shows up, it could be another anxious afternoon for the supporters. — IVAN LOH
