Liverpool will be looking to regain their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League when they face Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City last time out in the league, bringing their unbeaten start to an end. The Reds are still favourites to win the title but now face a test of character.
Meanwhile, Brighton are enjoying a steady second season in the Premier League, currently sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Read on for Brighton vs Liverpool live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is Brighton vs Liverpool?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Amex Stadium
Date: Saturday, 12 January
Kick-off: 3:00 PM GMT
Match preview
Liverpool have started 2019 off in the worst possible way, losing consecutive matches for the first time since May 2018.
First came the Premier League defeat to Manchester City, which reopened a title race many had tipped to be over were Liverpool to win. Then, the Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Klopp paying the price for heavy rotation.
Liverpool may not, then, be looking forward to their trip to Sussex on Saturday against a Brighton team looking to build on a four-game unbeaten run.
Since losing three games in a row in December, Brighton have won two and drawn two including a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in the FA Cup at the weekend.
The Seagulls have also been fairly good at home, losing just three of their 11 games at the Amex across all competitions. Five wins include one over Manchester United at the start of the season, while more recently, Arsenal have left Brighton with a point.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have lost five of their 15 away games this season including their last two – against Man City and Wolves.
Where can I watch live?
UK viewers will not be able to watch Brighton’s game against Liverpool, due to the Premier League’s regulations on televising 3pm kick-offs.
Can Liverpool recover from back-to-back defeats?
At the start of the year, Liverpool fans were looking happily behind them at the chasing pack, seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and with an FA Cup run to look forward to. But just seven days later, the Reds could feel the breath of Manchester City on their back and were out of the FA Cup early once again.
Now, the Reds must show their mental strength to keep clear at the top of the Premier League and bounce back from consecutive defeats. Liverpool had previously lost this season, four times in the Champions League and Carabao Cup to be exact, but the Reds’ Premier League form had been the focal point of their campaign.
Liverpool have let positive leads in the Premier League slip in the past, most notably in 2008/09 and 2013/14. But under Klopp, something does look different, and the Reds may just be alright en route to a first title since 1990.
Are Brighton safe from relegation?
Of the three teams to be promoted to the Premier League for the 2017/18, Brighton are best placed to retain their top-flight status for a third consecutive season. Chris Hughton’s men are currently 13th and 10 points clear of Southampton in 18th, despite some poor showings in their 21 games so far.
The goals appear to have dried up for Glenn Murray, who hasn’t scored in the past six games, but Brighton’s early season form may have saved them already. As it stands, there are at least three teams worse off than the Seagulls who need to seriously pull themselves together to stay in the Premier League, so Brighton could just start planning for a third year at England’s top table.
Will Liverpool be involved in any more transfer deals this window?
In order to keep their lead at the top of the Premier League, Liverpool have been linked with strengthening their squad during the January transfer window. While no players have come in yet, the Reds have seen two leave already. Dominic Solanke has signed for Bournemouth, while Nathaniel Clyne has joined him at the Cherries, albeit on loan until the end of the season. Given Liverpool’s injury problems, Klopp is currently short at right-back and has therefore confirmed youngster Rafael Camacho will not be leaving the club on loan this window.
Head-to-head
Liverpool edged the meeting at Anfield earlier this season 1-0 thanks to Mohamed Salah, and the win was nothing out of the ordinary for the Reds against Brighton. Of the 28 games played in total across all competitions, Liverpool have come out on top on 16 occasions compared to Brighton’s four. The last win for the Seagulls came in January 1984, with Liverpool winning seven of the past eight since.
Brighton wins: 4 Draws: 8 Liverpool wins: 16
Team news
1. Fabinho to partner Van Dijk
Brighton once again will be without first-choice goalkeeper Mathew Ryan who is away with Australia at the Asian Cup, so it is between David Button and Jason Steele for who will start between the sticks against Liverpool. Button has been Brighton’s go-to choice in the Premier League and would be unlikely to lose his place. The Seagulls will also be without left-back Bernardo who has not recovered from an injury picked up against West Ham last week.
The biggest question for Liverpool is whether they will have a fit centre-back to start alongside Virgil van Dijk. As it stands, it seems unlikely, with Matip only training for the first time on Thursday meaning Fabinho will probably continue – though Ki-Jana Hoever could be a wildcard choice. Elsewhere, the Reds should return to their strongest possible XI, with that terrifying front three back starting.
But who do other media outlets predict will start the game for both sides?
2. Milner continues in midfield
Milner was largely at fault for Wolves’ opener in the FA Cup defeat on Monday, but the English midfielder remains a trusted player for Klopp and the Evening Standard believes he will continue in midfield alongside Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum.
This would see the more attacking Xherdan Shaqiri dropped to the bench, potentially with Liverpool trying to put solidity in front of the unfamiliar Fabinho in defence.
Milner has completed 60% of his attempted tackles in the Premier League this season, compared to Shaqiri’s 33.33% while averaging 1.2 tackles won per 90.
Evening Standard‘s predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Fabinho, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
3. Klopp to return to 4-2-3-1
Klopp has shifted between his favoured 4-3-3 formation and a newly-adopted 4-2-3-1 this season, with Mohamed Salah occupying the most advanced role and Roberto Firmino dropping behind.
And that is exactly how the Daily Express believe Liverpool will line up to face Brighton, with Shaqiri playing as part of an attacking trio, while Wijnaldum and Henderson sit deep.
The rest of the team writes itself, with Fabinho again alongside Van Dijk in defence.
Squawka Prediction
Despite their poor start to 2019, normal service should resume for Liverpool, though it may be a tight one. 2-1 Liverpool.
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