Premier League: Expect Goals by the Seaside

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Liverpool

If this Premier League encounter is anything like the football feast both these two served up when they met earlier this season, then neutrals are in for a treat.

In theory, Brighton should not be able to hold off last season’s runners-up Liverpool.

Yet they have managed to once already this term. And as their south coast neighbours Southampton showed in the League Cup in midweek with character and touches of class, coupled with hard work and a true team spirit, can upset the odds.

And with a new World Cup winner in their ranks, why can’t the Seagulls deflate their illustrious opponents at the Amex and leapfrog them in the table?

Talking Points

Ironically, this could be the first of two meetings in a fortnight because an FA Cup fourth round tie at Brighton awaits the winners of the Wolves-Liverpool replay next week.

This weekend, though, it’s all about Premier League 2023 highlights and Roberto De Zerbi’s men should come into the contest full of confidence based on their efforts over the past 10 days.

They certainly silenced Goodison Park last week with a scintillating 4-1 win at Everton which kept them within touching distance of the top six.

Their main news surrounds Leandro Trossard, the Anfield hat-trick hero earlier this season, who missed last week’s FA Cup win at Middlesborough with a calf issue.

Jakub Moder is the hosts’ only guaranteed absentee, as the Poland midfielder targets a return from a knee injury next month.

De Zerbi was able to give Adam Webster some minutes off the bench in the FA Cup, where Lewis Dunk was rested, and both will be expected to return.

An expected return for World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister means that Adam Lallana may have to accept a spot on the bench against his former club, while emerging star Evan Ferguson could enjoy another start up front since he certainly impressed against the blue half of Merseyside last week.

It’s not inconceivable that both Mac Allister and Lallana may figure in the centre of the park though, for while the Argentinean midfielder scored twice in the 5-1 win at Boro as a substitute, he was a like-for-like replacement for Lallana who himself scored to put his side ahead for the second time in the tie.

With the likes of Pascal Gross and Moises Caicedo also impressing, it’s easy to forget the Brighton ended up selling some of their best players for around a combined £100-M last summer, in the shape of Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma, and Neal Maupay.

As for the visitors, they retain a true depth of talent and, while forwards Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have been joined on the sidelines by Virgil van Dijk, James Milner and Roberto Firmino should be fit enough to be named in the squad.

Liverpool have not lost in their 10 previous visits to Brighton and start as clear favourites but that only counts for so much as other visitors to this part of the world have discovered in the past year.

History

When these sides met earlier in the season, they produced an absolute cracker.

It was also a day to treasure for Trossard whose hat-trick at Anfield, including an 83^rd minute equaliser, earned the Seagulls a 3-3 draw in what was De Zerbi’s first game in charge.

Firmino had netted twice for the hosts.

Since their very first meeting in 1908 – an FA Cup tie which finished 1-1 at Anfield (the Merseysiders won the second round replay 3-0 – Liverpool had predominantly dominated the fixture with 20 wins compared to five Brighton successes and 11 draws.

Yet despite only beating them once since 1984, Brighton have been a thorn in Liverpool’s side in recent years.

Last season, they also managed a point at Anfield as they fought back from 2-0 down to claim a draw through Enock Mwepu and that man Trossard.

And in this fixture two seasons ago, a 90^th minute Gross penalty also pegged back Jurgen Klopp’s team.

They did win the corresponding fixture at the Amex last season as goals from Diaz and Mohamed Salah (penalty) secured a 2-0 win.

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds are very much stacked in favour of the visitors. Liverpool are priced 1X2 @ 2.09 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.36 is among a range of options.

The Seagulls, meanwhile, are on offer 1X2 @ 3.20 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.17.

The draw will pay out @ 3.60 and a repeat of last season’s corresponding fixture is available @ 11.50 with Correct Score 0-2.

Goal bets include over 3.25 @ 2.25, Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.70, 2-3 @ 2.02, and 4-6 @ 2.66. It is actually the latter I am taking as I expect it to be an end-to-end contest.

 

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