Game Week 16 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Brighton

Liverpool vs Brighton Premier League preview: Salah returns after Slot talks amid title defence woes; Seagulls eye top-four push. Verdict: Reds win.

Liverpool's healing process could receive a big boost with a win against Brighton, will the Seagulls let them have the three points? (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Liverpool vs Brighton

Anfield

4:00pm

Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah has been included in the squad to face Brighton following a face-to-face talk with Arne Slot on Friday.

The Egyptian star told the media that it feels like the club is throwing him under the bus following a third straight shutout. The media rant angered the Liverpool hierarchy, and the Egyptian was dropped from the trip to Inter Milan, but Arne Slot has confirmed that all is well between the coach and the player now.

Brighton coach Fabian Hurzelar has announced that Kaoru Mitoma, James Milner and Watson are all back and in contention for this one; however, it’s bad news for Stefanos Tzimas, who has torn his ACL and won’t feature again this season.

Brighton can look to the bright side, as they’re only three points off the top four, and a win here could send them higher up the log. Fabian Hurzeler has done a fantastic job stabilising the Seagulls in the league; they’re no pushovers.

Liverpool’s title defence is certainly not going as planned. They are ten points off the top of the log, but they can find some rhythm and build a great run which could see them in the top four at least. They’re completely out of the title race; they now must face a top four spot.

The two sides are on an identical run. They both have two wins, two draws and a loss in their respective last five games; this gives you an idea of how this game is likely to pan out. A draw is the most likely result, but one of them could show hunger to take maximum points.

It’s hard to tell if Mohamed Salah will start this game, but one certainty is that Cody Gakpo will not feature in this one, as he has suffered an injury. Florian Wirtz is gradually finding his feet; you expect him to start this one as he continues to adapt to the league.

Danny Welbeck is the man pushing for a call-up to the England setup for the World Cup; he will have another chance to lead the line for the Seagulls. Yakubu Minteh and Carlos Baleba are off to AFCON after this one; will they leave a huge mark before they exit for at least two weeks?

Verdict: Liverpool to win.