Liverpool will lock horns with Brighton and Hove Albion at the American Express Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon hoping to bounce back from their 2-0 midweek defeat at the hands of Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League. The Reds have currently got a lot of key players out of action due to injury, so Jurgen Klopp will have a selection headache ahead of this league clash this weekend.
The Merseyside giants will set themselves up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and might revert to their senior players for this game on the road versus Graham Potter’s men. Hence, we can expect to see James Milner take up the right-back slot while Fabinho gets another start as a makeshift centre-half at the expense of Neco Williams and Rhys Williams respectively.
4-2-3-1 Liverpool Predicted Lineup To Face Brighton
Defence
Alisson Becker will operate in goal for the Reds after shipping in two goals against Atalanta in midweek. As mentioned earlier, Fabinho will return to Klopp’s first-team to operate alongside Joel Matip as they look to keep Brighton’s Neal Maupay and Danny Welbeck quiet during the 90 minutes.
Milner will once again play as a makeshift right-back in the injury absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Andrew Roberton will return on the other side to take his rightful place at left-back. It would be up to the Scottish international to provide some ammunition for the front players to win this match.
Nathaniel Phillips and Neco Williams will make up the numbers on Klopp’s bench as they offer cover for the defensive positions.
Midfield
Georginio Wijnaldum will anchor the midfield along with Curtis Jones as they work hard towards retaining possession at the centre of the park. The dangerous trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah will feature just ahead of them as part of the Liverpool attack. All three of them failed to test the Atalanta defenders in midweek, so they will be eager to make amends by producing a much-improved collective display versus the Seagulls on Saturday.
Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri are all major doubts for this game and are unlikely to be ready in time for this weekend. Leighton Clarkson and Divock Origi will be available for selection on the bench.
Attack
Diogo Jota could get the nod to lead the line for the Merseyside outfit up top. The Portuguese striker has arguably been Liverpool’s best player this season, so it would be up to him to put in another goal-scoring display in the Premier League later this weekend.
Takumi Minamino will have to settle for a spot on the bench but could come on to influence the game in the latter stages of the contest if required.
