This article is part of our Game Previews series.
Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion Preview, Prediction & Betting Odds (GW16)
Gameweek 16 of the Premier League brings a compelling matchup at Anfield as Liverpool host Brighton & Hove Albion, with both sides level on 23 points through 15 matches and the Seagulls ahead on goal difference.
Liverpool enter this fixture having taken just five points from their last five league matches, while off-field questions linger following Mohamed Salah's recent comments regarding his relationship with the club and head coach Arne Slot.
Brighton continue to push toward their highest Premier League finish since placing sixth in the 2022/23 season. Fabian Hürzeler's side sit just three points outside the top five as the campaign approaches the halfway mark.
This preview covers predicted lineups, injury news, head-to-head history, betting odds and a score prediction for Saturday's Aston Villa vs. Arsenal match.
Premier League Player News & Updates
When & Where to Watch (USA/UK)
Saturday, December 6 at 10:00 AM ET/7:00 AM PT
US schedule
- TV Channel: NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)
- Live Stream: Peacock
UK schedule
- TV Channel: N/A
- Live Stream: Not broadcast live due to Saturday 3pm Blackout Rule
Liverpool vs. Brighton & Hove Albion Head-to-Head Record
Liverpool and Brighton have met 43 times, dating back to 1908 when the sides played to a 1-1 draw in an FA Cup round 2 matchup at Anfield.
The Reds lead the all-time series, winning 23 times and drawing on 12 occasions.
Across the last 10 Premier League meetings between the sides, each team has won three times, and the sides have played to a draw on four occasions.
Fixture Trivia
Question: Which Brighton player scored a decisive 90th minute goal in the FA Cup 4th Round matchup versus Liverpool in 2023?
Gameweek 15 Trivia: Who was the goalkeeper that secured a clean sheet in Arsenal's 4-0 FA Cup Final victory over Aston Villa in 2015?
Betting Odds and Predictions for Liverpool vs. Brighton & Hove Albion Match
Premier League Odds Comparisons
Moneyline Odds
DraftKings: LIV -145 Draw +320, BHA +350
FanDuel: LIV -150 Draw +320, BHA +370
BetMGM: LIV -145 Draw +320, BHA +340
Bet365: LIV -150 Draw +300, BHA +375
Visit RotoWire all season for exclusive sports betting picks and our weekly Premier League betting show. Remember that betting apps vary in terms of odds, so we have an easy-to-use odds page that allows you to shop for the best lines at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and PointsBet. Claim over a thousand dollars in bonuses by signing up at the best sports betting sites using the best sportsbook promos.
RECENT FORM
Liverpool (WDDWL) rebounded form a 4-1 Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven by pinching two Premier League draws and one win before outlasting Inter Milan in their midweek Champions League clash. Across their last five matches (all competitions), the Reds have outscored their opponents 11-5 on aggregate.
Brighton & Hove Albion's (DLWWD) lone defeat across their last five fixtures was a frenetic 4-3 loss to Aston Villa. In the other four fixtures combined, the Seagulls conceded just twice.
FORMATIONS
Liverpool are most likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1. The double-pivot is intended to shield a Liverpool backline that has conceded 24 goals, the ninth-most in the Premier League. When operating optimally, the double-pivot provides the talented Liverpool full-backs license to make overlapping runs into the attacking half of the pitch.
Brighton & Hove Albion often lineup in a base 4-2-3-1 under Hurzeler with the young manager eager to impress tactically flexibility upon his setup. When in possession, look for the Seagulls' full-backs to jump forward in support of their wing-play and midfield. When dispossessed, expect Brighton to use a 4-2-2-2 shape to press high up the pitch before reshaping into their base formation in the defensive-third.
CONFIRMED LINEUP NOTES & INJURY NEWS
Premier League Predicted & Confirmed Lineups
Liverpool Injury News & Lineup Notes
Slot is managing through injuries, suspensions and general strife as Liverpool aim to field their strongest starting XI for Saturday's showdown.
Defensively, Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) could return after Slot mentioned in last week's press conference that he expected the full-back to rejoin the team this week. Fellow full-back Conor Bradley (suspension) will be unavailable for the fixture after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. With Bradley suspended and Frimpong still working his way back to fitness, expect Joe Gomez to consume at least a portion of the minutes at right-back Saturday.
Further up the pitch, attacker Federico Chiesa (illness) is likely to be available after missing out on Liverpool's midweek Champions League clash with Inter Milan. Anticipate Chiesa to play a role off the bench Saturday. Midfielder Stefan Bajcetic (hamstring) returned to training nearly a month ago but has yet to make an appearance this season.
Most notably, Mohamed Salah has been dropped by Slot after his comments on his relationship with the club and head coach. Dominik Szoboszlai is projected to start on Liverpool's attacking right in favor of the club legend.
Alexander Isak picked up a knock midweek and will be a late test if he's able to start Saturday.
Liverpool's long-term absences include Cody Gakpo (undisclosed) who is set to miss weeks with an injury, per manager Arne Slot, and Giovanni Leoni who will miss the entire season after suffering a significant knee injury.
Brighton & Hove Albion Injury News & Lineup Notes
The Seagulls are likely to have two attackers undergo a pre-match fitness test Saturday.
Kaoru Mitoma (ankle) is a possibility to make his return from an injury he suffered in late Sept. and caused him to miss nine league fixtures. The winger suffered a minor setback ahead of Brighton's victory over West Ham United but has been pictured in training this week ahead of the showdown at Anfield. Additionally, promising teenager Tom Watson (undisclosed) has resumed training in recent weeks is likely to be available for selection after an undisclosed knock caused him to be unavailable for their last five league matches. If Mitoma and Watson are deemed fit, look for them to play a role off the bench as they rebuild their fitness.
In the midfield, Yasin Ayari (strain) has missed two successive fixtures. Ayari was a possibility ahead of the West Ham match, but was ultimately left out. If the midfielder is deemed fit ahead of Saturday's kick-off, expect him to contend with Jack Hinshelwood for minutes in the Seagulls' engine room as he rebuilds to full fitness.
James Milner (strain) & Solomon March (knee) have each been pictured in training this week as they each near their return from long-term absences. Milner has been out since early Oct. and March is nearing the conclusion of his recovery form a surgical procedure. Considering March's injury history and Milner's age, expect the Seagulls to reintegrate the duo slowly.
Stefanos Tzimas (knee) suffered an injury in Brighton's 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa and is set to be sidelined for months, according to Hurzeler. Adam Webster (knee) remains a long-term absence after suffering an ACL injury in preseason training.
KEY MATCHUPS
Brighton's Attacking-Right versus Liverpool's Defensive-Left
The untimely suspension of Conor Bradley combined with the Jeremie Frimpong fitness question mark leaves Slot with the unenviable choice of deploying Joe Gomez in a full-back role. The central-defender-by-trade is likely to matchup against Maxim De Cuyper and Ferdi Kadioglu. Expect Hurzeler to deploy a gameplan to exploit Gomez's positioning on the flank. If the Seagulls are to gain a foothold at Anfield, look for it to be the result of their play down the attacking-left side of their formation.
Strikers versus Double-Pivots
Both Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion are expected to deploy two holding-midfielders ahead of their backlines.
Expect Liverpool's double-pivot to consist of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, with the former maintaining his holding role and the latter pushing further up the pitch while in possession. The duo will be contending with Danny Welbeck and the dynamism of Georginio Rutter as the attackers look find space in the box.
Brighton's double-pivot duo is likely to consist of Carlos Baleba and Diego Gomez. In this relationship, Baleba is typically the player asked to sit deeper while Gomez is afforded the responsibility of playing a more progressive role. The Seagulls will be looking to minimize the space for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz as the Liverpool attack builds with patience as they seek to pierce the Brighton defense.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Alexander Isak's ability to produce goals is likely to not only impact the outcome of Saturday's fixture, but also the way in which the Liverpool campaign and the preceding transfer market are judged.
After scoring 23 league goals for Newcastle last season, the talented striker has managed just one for the Reds across eight appearances (six starts) this season. In six appearances (four starts) across all competitions since returning form a groin injury, Isak has attempted 11 shots (three on goal) and scored once.
After performing as one of the top striker in England over a period of years with Newcastle, I back Isak's raw ability to eventually prevail over his lack of current form. Look for Isak to get the better of Jan Paul van Hecke and Lewis Dunk Saturday en route to scoring his second goal for the Reds.
RESULT
Liverpool 2 - Brighton & Hove Albion 1
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Liverpool: Dec. 20 at Tottenham Hotspur
Brighton & Hove Albion: Dec. 20 vs Sunderland
