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.
Chiến thuật và các điểm nóng
Arne Slot nhiều khả năng xoay quanh 4-2-3-1 (biến thể 4-3-3), ưu tiên kiểm soát trung tuyến với Jones - Gravenberch - Mac Allister để giảm tải cho hàng thủ vốn mong manh. Việc sử dụng các tân binh như Alexander Isak và Florian Wirtz cho thấy Liverpool muốn làm mới cách tiếp cận, trực diện hơn thay vì phụ thuộc vào các miếng đánh biên gắn với Salah.
Brighton dưới thời Hurzeler duy trì pressing cường độ cao, nhưng bế tắc ở 1/3 cuối sân. Cặp trung vệ Dunk - Van Hecke sẽ là điểm tựa, trong khi họ chờ cơ hội phản công dựa trên tốc độ của Minteh và khả năng làm tường của Welbeck.
Trung tuyến là trận địa chính: Alexis Mac Allister tái ngộ đội bóng cũ, đối đầu sức trẻ của Carlos Baleba. Nếu Liverpool không kiểm soát được nhịp độ, các pha chuyển trạng thái nhanh của Brighton có thể khoét sâu vào hàng thủ dễ tổn thương.
Hành lang phải Liverpool cũng là điểm nóng: nếu Salah không đá hoặc chơi dưới sức, Joe Gomez và Szoboszlai phải gánh nhiều nhiệm vụ, vừa hỗ trợ tấn công vừa hạn chế các pha leo biên từ Kadioglu và De Cuyper.
Cầu thủ đáng xem
- Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool): Vừa ghi bàn quyết định trước Inter, là nguồn năng lượng và sáng tạo hiếm hoi của The Kop trong giai đoạn sa sút.
- 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.
