Amid poor form and a public spat with star Mohamed Salah, Arne Slot’s under-pressure Liverpool side must defeat inconsistent visitors Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield to salvage their Premier League season.
Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes face a critical pre-Christmas test as the struggling Reds host Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s side, which started with five straight wins, has since won only two of ten, leaving them 10 points adrift of the leaders.
The fixture is compounded by internal drama after Mohamed Salah was dropped following his claim that “he’s been thrown under the bus by the club and someone wants him to leave.”
The Premier League champions are in a domestic slump, ranking 16th in the form table and 12th in the home table, winning just four of seven at Anfield.
Salah’s availability remains uncertain as he prepares for AFCON, forcing Slot to possibly retain the 4-4-2 diamond formation used against Inter Milan due to Cody Gakpo’s injury. Florian Wirtz is tipped to be a key player for the hosts in Salah’s expected absence.
Opponents Brighton, led by Fabian Hürzeler, enter the match in slightly better form, having secured eight points from their last five games.
They boast the league’s third-best attack, though their results have been inconsistent. Veteran striker Danny Welbeck is the key threat for the Seagulls.
The hosts are unbeaten in four and “have a point to prove right now,” with a narrow 2-1 win predicted.