Trent Alexander-Arnold embraces Harvey Elliott after his winner for Liverpool at Leicester City last month
Trent Alexander-Arnold embraces Harvey Elliott after his winner for Liverpool at Leicester City last month
Liverpool resume their Premier League run-in tonight (Monday, May 19) when they face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium (8pm kick-off). It's the start of a big week for the Reds.
Arne Slot's side have been champions for three weeks now. But after sealing the title with a thumping 5-1 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur on April 27, they have been made to wait to get their hands on the trophy.
That moment will finally arrive on Sunday (May 25) after they play FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Anfield.
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Liverpool will then parade the trophy around the city the following day (Monday, May 26) as supporters from all over the world get to celebrate with head coach Slot and his players.
But before all that is the matter of a showdown with a Brighton team who must win to keep their hopes of qualifying for Europe alive.
It is not a match to be taken lightly. What, then, is Slot to do over his starting line-up? Our writers have their say...
Paul Gorst
So the final home game of a ludicrously successful season is here then for Arne Slot and his players.
Does the Liverpool boss rest and rotate? Or will he stick largely with big guns that have brought home the Premier League title?
Alisson Becker starts and Conor Bradley continues at right-back. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk partner at centre-back and I'm giving Andy Robertson the nod on the left side.
In midfield, I'm giving Harvey Elliott a chance to show what he can do in a team that isn't too heavily rotated. So the attacking midfielder starts as the most advanced with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister patrolling further back.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones can wait in the wings, if needed.
Up top, Luis Diaz can lead the line and Cody Gakpo starts off the left. Mohamed Salah is in also.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Gakpo; Diaz.
Paul Wheelock
It really doesn't matter how Liverpool fare in their final two games of the season. But after losing at Chelsea and dropping points against Arsenal, there should be a desire within Arne Slot's squad to get at least one more win on the board before their memorable season comes to an end.
Whether it comes this evening is another matter. The Reds have beaten Brighton twice already this season. But so many of the most recent meetings between the teams have been closely-fought affairs and the Seagulls will be fired up given their season remains very much alive.
Slot, then, should go strong, with Alisson Becker in goal, Andy Robertson at left-back, and Ibrahima Konate partnering captain Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
There is no question Conor Bradley starts at right-back over the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold. Given the reaction to his arrival off the bench against Arsenal last weekend, and the impact it had on the Anfield atmosphere, there must be a question now for Slot over whether Alexander-Arnold features in his final two matches for the club.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister returns alongside Ryan Gravenberch, while Harvey Elliott is given the chance to impress in front of the Reds' first-choice centre-midfield.
Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah are either side of Elliott, with Luis Diaz in the centre-forward's position.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Gakpo; Diaz.