Liverpool vs Brighton: Pressure on Arne Slot, Salah's fate uncertain.
Liverpool face Brighton in Premier League Round 16, with the defending champions dropping to 10th place, 10 points behind Arsenal; tensions between Slot and Salah escalate, and the squad is depleted.
Pressure is mounting on Arne Slot ahead of their match against Brighton: Liverpool have won only two of their last ten Premier League games, dropping to tenth place and trailing Arsenal by 10 points. With the ongoing conflict with Mohamed Salah and the risk of the Egyptian star remaining sidelined, Anfield faces a tense night ahead.
Tournament:English Premier League |Round:Round of 16 |Location:Anfield Stadium |Time:10:00 PM on December 13, 2025 (Vietnam time)
Form and context
Liverpool entered this match with a heavy heart. After 15 games, they had conceded 24 goals and won only 2 of their last 10 – the worst start for a champion since Leicester City in the 2016/17 season. Their 1-0 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League wasn't enough to dispel the inconsistency of Arne Slot's team. In 2025, Liverpool's defense has already conceded 48 goals.
Brighton are currently 8th, level on points with Liverpool but ahead on goal difference. They recently drew 1-1 with West Ham in a game where they controlled possession but lacked creativity. A worrying statistic for the visitors: manager Fabian Hurzeler has yet to win a Premier League match in December (5 draws, 3 losses).
Head-to-head statistics
- Liverpool have lost only 1 of their last 8 home matches against Brighton at Anfield in domestic competitions (5 wins, 2 draws).
- That only defeat came when Liverpool were the reigning champions (February 2021).
- Brighton are aiming for a second consecutive victory against Liverpool for the first time in history, following their 3-2 win in May.
Team news and availability
Liverpool:Cody Gakpo, Giovanni Leoni, and Conor Bradley are absent due to injury and suspension. Jeremie Frimpong and Federico Chiesa's participation is uncertain. The focus is on Mohamed Salah – his conflict with coach Arne Slot and his poor form mean he is highly likely to be dropped from the starting lineup.
Brighton:Stefanos Tzimas, Solly March, and James Milner are absent. Kaoru Mitoma has not fully recovered from an ankle injury. Yasin Ayari requires a later medical check-up.
Predicted lineup
Liverpool (4-2-3-1):Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Isak, Wirtz.
Brighton (4-2-3-1):Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, De Cuyper; Welbeck.
Tactics and hotspots
Arne Slot will most likely revolve around a 4-2-3-1 formation (a 4-3-3 variant), prioritizing midfield control with Jones, Gravenberch, and Mac Allister to ease pressure on the already fragile defense. The inclusion of new signings like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz suggests Liverpool want to refresh their approach, opting for a more direct style of play rather than relying on wing attacks tied to Salah.
Under Hurzeler, Brighton maintained high-intensity pressing, but struggled in the final third. The central defensive pairing of Dunk and Van Hecke would be the cornerstone, while they waited for counter-attacking opportunities based on Minteh's speed and Welbeck's ability to hold up the ball.
MedianThe main battleground is Liverpool: Alexis Mac Allister reunites with his former club, facing the youthful energy of Carlos Baleba. If Liverpool fail to control the tempo, Brighton's quick transitions could exploit their vulnerable defense.
Liverpool right flankThis is also a critical point: if Salah is not playing or is underperforming, Joe Gomez and Szoboszlai have to shoulder many responsibilities, both supporting the attack and limiting the runs down the flanks from Kadioglu and De Cuyper.
Players worth watching
- Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool):Having just scored the winning goal against Inter, he was a rare source of energy and creativity for The Kop during their slump.
- Georginio Rutter (Brighton):He scored the crucial equalizer against West Ham, playing a key role behind Welbeck.
Assessment
Liverpool have failed to win their last three home games. The dressing room instability and a leaky defense make keeping a clean sheet against a disciplined Brighton side seem unlikely. Although the visitors aren't at their best in December, they could capitalize on their opponents' mistakes to secure at least a point. An attacking game with plenty of goals is highly probable.
Predicted score (according to Sportsmole): Liverpool 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion.
