Liverpool takes on Brighton at Anfield in the Premier League this weekend, in a fixture that will truly test Andoni Iraola and his players against an in-form side
Head Coach Fabian Hürzeler of Brighton & Hove Albion with his counterpart Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion
Andoni Iraola and Fabian Hurzeler will reunite during Liverpool's clash with Brighton(Image: (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images))
Liverpool's wait for a Premier League win at Anfield is predicted to continue, with Brighton backed to pick up a victory against the Reds over the weekend.
The Seagulls have been in red-hot form so far this season, sitting third in the Premier League table with five wins from a possible seven in the division. With 23 goals scored, Fabian Hurzeler's side are comfortably the top scorers in the division, and that has been without the likes of Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh.
It shows that Liverpool will have to be at its best to beat Brighton in a difficult encounter, with Andoni Iraola's side still adjusting to the new methods of the head coach, alongside a busy fixture schedule.
The match being held at Anfield should be an advantage, but so far this season, the home turf has been a difficult place for the Reds to get a result.
It has been six months since the last win at home in the Premier League, a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace in April, with the crowd yet to be shown the exciting style of play they would all be hoping for.
Draws with Nottingham Forest and Fulham have been followed up by a defeat to Manchester City at Anfield, underlining the challenge that could follow with the visit of Brighton on Sunday.
That challenge is so tough that former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes that the away side will pick up a victory, extending that six-month wait for a league win at home.
Chris Sutton is expecting a tough game for Liverpool
Chris Sutton is expecting a tough game for Liverpool(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Writing in the BBC Sport predictions column, he backed a 3-1 win for Brighton, saying: "Liverpool have an extra 48 hours to prepare for this game - they played Villarreal at home on Tuesday, while Brighton are away in the Czech Republic on Thursday.
"I don't think it will make any difference, though, because the way that the Seagulls play, I am expecting them to go to Anfield and win.
"This has the makings of a great game, but while Liverpool have had a couple of good results, I am still not convinced by them.
"Andoni Iraola's side are a work in progress with a tendency to empty their midfield and that means Brighton can hurt them."
It sets up the kind of game that will truly test Iraola and his side's ability to deal with an opposition that can create a chaotic game for them, rather than sitting behind the ball.
With a battle of attacks set to be on display, it remains to be seen whether the star-studded lineup for the Reds can overcome the challenge of the visiting Seagulls.