Credit: The Brighton Base
Brighton will be keen to build on their recent strong performances when they host Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.
The Seagulls have won three of their last four Premier League matches, including a [gritty 1-0 victory over Sunderland last weekend](/brighton-vs-sunderland-player-ratings-widespread-yankuba-minteh-danny-welbeck/), thanks to a fortunate goal from Yankuba Minteh.
Liverpool will arrive at the Amex Stadium in good spirits after their 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League earlier this week, but Saturday’s game will come too soon for Mohamed Salah, who picked up a knock during the contest.
The Brighton Base takes a look at how Fabian Hurzeler’s side may line up on Saturday afternoon…
**Brighton predicted XI vs Liverpool (4-2-3-1)**
**Goalkeeper – Bart Verbruggen**
After recording his seventh clean sheet of the campaign at the Stadium of Light, the Dutchman will be hoping to bag his eighth in what looks set to be another tight contest. His distribution wasn’t the best against the Black Cats though, and Liverpool will likely punish those misplaced passes if they aren’t ironed out.
**Defence – Mats Wieffer, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Ferdi Kadioglu**
With everyone fit and available, it is hard to envision Hurzeler veering away from this current quartet. Club captain Dunk is continuing to nurse a knee injury, but the upcoming international break will provide the centre-back with plenty of time to rest, rather than sidestepping this match.
The jury is out among some Brighton supporters over Wieffer’s suitability at right-back, and the Dutchman has a great opportunity to show his strengths against either international teammate Cody Gapo or youngster Rio Ngumoha.
**Midfield – James Milner, Pascal Gross, Jack Hinshelwood**
Hurzeler has confirmed that Carlos Baleba will be available to face the Reds, but the Cameroon international looks likely to be named among the substitutes rather than in the starting XI.
Milner, Gross and Hinshelwood have formed a strong connection over the past month, and their blend of know-how and unselfishness has provided the ideal platform for their attacking-minded teammates to thrive.
**Attack – Diego Gomez, Danny Welbeck, Yankuba Minteh**
Kaoru Mitoma’s return presents Hurzeler with a tough ‘stick or twist’ decision: keep the faith in Minteh, or drop the Gambia international for his No. 22. The two can, of course, line up together. However, there has been unwavering faith in Gomez from the former St Pauli boss this season, and that looks unlikely to change any time soon.
Minteh was an ever-present threat against Sunderland and could be given the nod, with Mitoma capable of influencing the match from the bench.