Brighton and Hove Albion vs Liverpool. Premier League.
Amex StadiumAttendance30,634.
Saturday 2 December 2017 14:09, UK
Liverpool can move into the Premier League's top four with victory at Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
Since the 4-1 defeat at Tottenham at the end of October, Jurgen Klopp's side have turned their league form around, having picked up four wins from their last five games, including a 3-0 success at Stoke on Wednesday evening.
Liverpool start the weekend in fifth and know that three points at the Amex Stadium in Saturday's 3pm kick-off will lift them, at least temporarily, above Arsenal, who host Manchester United in the late kick-off that day.
Brighton also start the weekend in the top half of the Premier League table, having only lost one of their last seven Premier League matches - last weekend's narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Liverpool are set to be without Joel Matip. The defender suffered a muscle problem at the end of the midweek victory over Stoke but Ragnar Klavan is expected to have recovered from illness and could step in.
Top scorer Mohamed Salah could come back into the starting line-up after scoring twice more as a substitute against the Potters but Adam Lallana (thigh) remains unavailable.
Brighton expect to have left-back Gaetan Bong available again following a knee problem and manager Chris Hughton reported no fresh injury worries after the midweek goalless draw with Crystal Palace.
Midfielder Steve Sidwell remains sidelined by a back problem, but is stepping up his rehabilitation programme.
This will be the first league meeting between these two sides since Brighton were last in the top-flight in 1982/83 - the Seagulls secured a 2-2 draw at the Goldstone Ground on that occasion in March 1983.
However, their most recent encounter came in an FA Cup fifth-round tie in February 2012, with Liverpool winning 6-1.
Liverpool have won just one of their last four Premier League away trips to newly-promoted sides (D1 L2), winning against Middlesbrough 3-0 in December 2016.
Since losing their opening game against Manchester City, Brighton are unbeaten in six Premier League games at home, though the last four have all ended level (W2 D4 L0).
Liverpool have now made 48 changes to their starting XI this season in the Premier League, 11 more than any other side.
"Liverpool are a bag of revels. Going forward they are phenomenal and Mohamed Salah has been outstanding. He's settled quicker than snow. "People say 'why did Chelsea let him go' but he's a different player now. Certain players suit certain clubs - I think he's improved immensely, although I don't think he's the greatest finisher in the world. He's missed a lot of chances. He could have had even more goals to his name, but I love watching him.
"Brighton are tough to beat at home as Manchester City found out earlier this season, but Liverpool will find a way through."
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
Brighton are up against odds of 11/2 to beat 1/2 favourites Liverpool, while the draw is priced at 16/5. The Seagulls are currently 4/1 for relegation while their visitors are marginally odds-on for a top-four finish at 4/6. Mohamed Salah, who is 6/1 still to be the Premier League leading scorer come the end of the season, heads the first goalscorer betting at 10/3, while Glenn Murray is considered the hosts' main threat at 15/2 to net first.
