Brighton and Hove Albion 2025 review: Who has delivered, who has flopped and transfer latest
Liverpool vs Brighton team news ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash
A number of Brighton players are walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of the clash with Liverpool at Anfield this Saturday.
Five Seagulls are sitting on four bookings so far in the Premier League this term and are just one booking away from suspensions.
According to The FA's disciplinary rules, any player who earns five bookings from their side's first 19 Premier League matches of a season will have to serve a one-match ban in the same competition.
Out-of-sorts midfielder Carlos Baleba, right back Mats Wieffer, skipper Lewis Dunk, left back Ferdi Kadioglu and midfielder Diego Gomez have all collected four yellows so far.
Eighth placed Brighton also have quite a lengthy injury list at the moment and the last thing head coach Fabian Hurzeler needs is missing players through suspensions. Especially as Baleba heads off after the Liverpool match to the AFCON with Cameroon... Although, given his recent form, how big of a loss that is, is debatable.
Kaoru Mitoma (ankle), James Milner (muscular), Yasin Ayari (unspecified) and Tommy Watson (unspecified) are all doubts for the Saturday showdown at 10th placed Liverpool, while Adam Webster (knee), Stefanos Tzimas (knee) and Solly March (knee) are ruled out.
Bradley suspended for Brighton clash
Liverpool also have their disciplinary issues as their Northern Irish full back is suspended for the clash against Brighton as he has already collected five yellows.
Bradley, who played in Tuesday's Champions League win at Inter Milan on Tuesday, is expected to return to Premier League action at Tottenham on Saturday December 20.
The Reds are also dealing with the Mo Salah fall out. The Egyptian didn’t feature against Inter and it’s unclear at this stage if Arne Slot names him in the squad to play against Brighton.
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai – probably Salah’s main confidant among the players – walked a carefully-balanced line when asked about the situation.
“I’m very close with him. It’s him and his own choice with what he is doing with his own life and his own career,” said the Hungary captain, who benefited from Salah being left at home by being given the responsibility of scoring the 88th-minute penalty at San Siro.
“It’s nothing to do with the players, I guess, so nothing to say about it.”
Salah alleged on Saturday evening that he had been “thrown under the bus” in relation to the team’s run of poor results from September to November – a period during which he scored just twice – and questioned whether he had a future beyond this weekend’s home match against Brighton ahead of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Asked whether he wanted Salah to stay, Szoboszlai replied: “It’s not our decision, as players.
“I love him as a human being, as a friend of mine. As a player, he has done so much for this club. It’s going to be the club’s and his decision.”
Continue Reading