Brighton vs Liverpool
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This Carabao Cup clash on 30 October 2024 promises to be a brilliant affair. The Amex, home ground for Brighton, will be the venue of this tie, which forms a double header between the two teams in less than a week, with the two teams facing off once more in the Premier League. This game sees Liverpool arrive as the reigning Carabao Cup champions, whereas Brighton will be trying to finally break the poor record they have in this fourth round and advance furthest in this tournament for the first time since the 1978-79 quarterfinals.
Let’s dive into a comprehensive preview of this encounter, covering recent form, head-to-head history, key players, team news, and match predictions.
Recent Form
Brighton & Hove Albion
So far, Brighton have had a bit of an all-over-the-place campaign, with moments of brittleness interspersed with phases of great resilience. In their most recent Premier League encounter, Brighton blew a 2-0 lead and had to settle for a frustrating 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose late goals sealed it. Of course, this contrasts rather sharply with their run of form in the Carabao Cup, which has been much better, probably best epitomized by a stunning 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton in the third round to set up this intriguing matchup against Liverpool.
Recent Brighton form in all competitions has been patchy, where they recorded impressive victories against Wolverhampton in the Carabao Cup and Newcastle in the Premier League. For sure, their weak point was witnessed when they blew several leads lately, and not exactly at the right moment, when they were about to take on one of the most consistent and in-form sides in England.
Brighton’s Last Six Matches (All Competitions):
- Win vs Wolverhampton (EFL Cup)
- Draw vs Wolverhampton (Premier League)
- Loss vs Chelsea
- Win vs Newcastle
- Win vs Burnley
- Draw vs Manchester United
Liverpool
Liverpool comes into this tie with some good confidence from their thrilling 2-2 draw against Arsenal last Sunday in the Premier League, during which they came from behind on two occasions to secure a point. Under the management of Arne Slot, Liverpool have transformed into a dynamic pressing and aggressively attacking team. The Reds launched the Carabao Cup campaign with a dominant performance as they defeated West Ham United 5-1, which showed a glimpse of the great depth of talent and versatility within the team.
Liverpool come into this tie with the aim of extending their unbeaten run through all competitions, with that lone draw interrupting a string of victories, while defending their Carabao Cup title quite efficiently. Even though their 100% away record has been disrupted by Arsenal, they have indeed looked strong on the road.
Liverpool’s Last Six Matches (All Competitions):
- Win vs West Ham (EFL Cup)
- Draw vs Arsenal (Premier League)
- Win vs Aston Villa
- Win vs Tottenham
- Win vs Chelsea
- Win vs Crystal Palace
Head-to-Head Record
Brighton and Liverpool have shared a competitive rivalry in recent years, with each team proving capable of outplaying the other. In their last five encounters, Brighton has managed a win, Liverpool claimed two, and two matches ended in a draw, highlighting the unpredictable nature of this fixture.
One of Brighton’s standout performances came in January 2023, when they eliminated Liverpool from the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory at the Amex Stadium. Liverpool, however, managed to exact some revenge with a 2-1 Premier League win at Anfield in March 2024. Historically, Liverpool holds the edge in the overall head-to-head stats, but Brighton's recent performances at home against the Reds should give them some confidence heading into this clash.
Last 5 Head-to-Head Results:
- March 2024: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton (Premier League)
- January 2023: Brighton 2-1 Liverpool (FA Cup)
- October 2022: Liverpool 3-3 Brighton (Premier League)
- March 2022: Liverpool 2-0 Brighton (Premier League)
- October 2021: Brighton 2-2 Liverpool (Premier League)
Team News and Possible Lineups
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton have a number of injury worries with key men Joao Pedro, Solly March, Matt O'Riley, Adam Webster, and James Milner out with different injuries. In addition, skipper Lewis Dunk is a doubt after picking up a calf injury. Danny Welbeck should start after recovering from an injury scare, which would be a big boost to Brighton's attacking ranks. Manager Fabian Hurzeler of Brighton will be relying on mixing regular first-team players with fringe players in his team to match the strength of Liverpool.
Brighton’s Predicted Starting XI:
- Goalkeeper: Jason Steele
- Defenders: Tariq Lamptey, Jan Paul van Hecke, Igor Julio, Pervis Estupiñán
- Midfielders: Simon Adingra, Carlos Baleba, Mats Wieffer, Kaoru Mitoma
- Forwards: Julio Enciso, Evan Ferguson
Liverpool
Liverpool's list includes the likes of Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliott, and Diogo Jota through injury, all possibly missing out on this game, while Federico Chiesa and Conor Bradley are two doubts. But still, the squad of Liverpool is deep. Arne Slot will likely do some rotations. Kelleher may take the goalkeeper's spot. Young talents like Wataru Endo and Jarell Quansah is bound to feature in the starting lineup. Key attackers like Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo can provide fresh legs, while Mohamed Salah might be trusted to lead the attack.
Liverpool’s Predicted Starting XI:
- Goalkeeper: Caoimhin Kelleher
- Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas
- Midfielders: Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai
- Forwards: Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez
Key Players to Watch
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Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton): The Japanese winger has been crucial in Brighton's attacking play, known for his dribbling skills and ability to create scoring chances. Mitoma will be looking to exploit Liverpool's high defensive line and could be a game-changer if he finds space on the wings.
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Evan Ferguson (Brighton): A promising young forward, Ferguson has shown glimpses of his potential and will need to be clinical in front of goal to trouble Liverpool’s defense. His physicality and aerial prowess could make him a handful for Liverpool’s backline.
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Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): The Egyptian forward continues to be Liverpool’s talisman, known for his pace, dribbling, and goal-scoring abilities. Salah’s experience in big games could make the difference, especially if Liverpool’s midfield manages to dominate possession.
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Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool): Since joining Liverpool, Szoboszlai has quickly become an integral part of the midfield with his creativity, ball control, and vision. His presence allows Liverpool to transition quickly from defense to attack, and his set-piece abilities could prove vital.
Tactical Analysis
Brighton’s Approach
Brighton will most probably play a press-like system to penetrate Liverpool's midfield. The manager may ask his team to press the wide areas of Liverpool with Mitoma and Lamptey, who have incredible speed and dribbling skills. But without players like March and Dunk, the Brighton structure at the back will be pretty vulnerable, specifically against Liverpool's high-pressing system.
Liverpool’s Strategy
Slot's Liverpool is likely to play high-intensity football, pressing high to force turnovers and capitalizing on quick counterattacks. The full-backs of Liverpool might press high up the pitch to support the attack and create overloads on the flanks, particularly Alexander-Arnold. Rotation in the squad could also be on the cards for Slot, with emerging talents looking to prove their mettle and keep the energies of key players fresh for the Premier League game.
Prediction
Also, due to the continuous injuries sustained by the two teams, both would have missed some of their fundamental players for this game; that may disrupt their composure and beat in the field. Nevertheless, taking into consideration Liverpool's depth of quality and experience with high-intensity games, they remain favorites. Brighton have the home advantage and a good recent record against Liverpool at the Amex, which provides an element of unpredictability, yet Liverpool's attacking options and tactical flexibility give them the slight edge.
Prediction: Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
Conclusion
The Carabao Cup fourth-round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool will be unforgettable. Brighton, who never passed the round of 16, and Liverpool, who want to hold the title, are on the promising path to drama and passion in this game. It will be an open game of attacks, full of tactical fights and individual brilliancy, while both teams will fight for a win.
While the favorites would be Liverpool for depth and experience, Brighton could make sure home soil stirred up a stiff fight to cause an upset.
