Three crucial confrontations to watch for in the Brighton vs. Liverpool game

Liverpool’s next Premier League match is a challenging away trip to Brighton, where they will be looking to build on their Europa League victory over Union Saint-Gilloise midweek.

Liverpool may have resumed their winning ways in Europe, but they are still licking their wounds in their own country after losing to Spurs due to terrible officiating, the team’s first loss of the 2023–24 season.

Aston Villa, who Liverpool defeated 3-0 earlier in the season, humiliated Brighton by a score of 6-1.
Brighton also put on a strong performance in Europe, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to draw with Marseille.
However, the South Coast club also has something to prove in the Premier League.

The Seagulls actually possess the better record between the two teams in terms of recent results, holding Jurgen Klopp’s team to just one victory in the previous seven games.

After their losses, both teams will be eager to end the international break on a high, and this game has all the makings of a classic.

These three crucial conflicts could break the tie.

TARIQ LAMPTEY VS MOHAMED SALAH

Mohamed Salah will undoubtedly be relieved that he won’t have to compete with Pervis Estupinan, Brighton’s starting left back, on Sunday.
The Ecuadorian is without a doubt one of the league’s best left-sided defenders.

The 25-year-old will miss the match against Liverpool and will be out for about a month, Roberto De Zerbi announced earlier this week.

“Unfortunately, we are losing an important player, but Tariq Lamptey, Igor Julio, or other players can play in that position,” he said.
With others, we must be prepared.

Lamptey is the most likely replacement for the left back position.
The young player gained a spot in Brighton’s starting lineup and even scored Brighton’s equalizing penalty against Marseille.

He hasn’t faced a right-side player with Salah’s caliber, though, and we all know the Egyptian can make the best defenders in the world look foolish whenever he wants to.

The winger for Liverpool has already assisted on eight goals across all competitions this year and will be hoping to keep up his impressive start against Brighton, so Lamptey should be prepared for a challenge.

KAORU MITOMA VS TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD

The Brighton vs. Liverpool game’s left flank could be the site of the most crucial contest that determines the outcome.

Mitoma has already demonstrated his talent this season with three goals and four assists in just ten games across all competitions.
He has also shown in the past that he can be a real handful for Liverpool, scoring the game-winning goal in the FA Cup match last year.

Alexander-Arnold is still gradually regaining his previous speed after suffering a hamstring injury that kept him out for three weeks.
He has frequently been slightly exposed against quick, nimble wingers.

The full-back barely made a mistake on offense or defense during his hour-long midweek appearance against Union Saint-Gilloise.

This test, however, is on a different level.

It will take the combined efforts of Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate to lock the Japan international down and make sure he has as little impact as possible because the space may naturally open up for Mitoma to exploit given that Alexander-Arnold’s creativity is likely needed to break down a tough Brighton defense away from home.

SOLLY MARCH VS ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER

Mac Allister will take on his former team for the first time since joining Liverpool for £35m in one of the steal transfers of the summer transfer window, and his midfield duel will likely be one of the game’s key deciding factors.

Due to his versatility, Liverpool’s World Cup winner has frequently been asked to play as the most defensive midfielder at the base in the middle of the park, controlling the tempo and spraying passes out wide.
He did a fantastic job finishing this.

Despite the fact that Liverpool has a lot of threat up top, they still need a player of his caliber to play the game-controlling role in midfield and keep things moving forward.
This can sometimes be seen as negating the attacking skills Mac Allister demonstrated at Brighton.

Given how skilled Liverpool can be at times, Solly March, who is arguably Brighton’s most advanced midfielder, will be looking to use his understanding of Mac Allister’s game to his advantage and get the better of him.
If he can get past his former teammate, he will be able to create chances and control the game.

Nevertheless, Mac Allister only participated for 45 minutes in the Europa League during the middle of the week and will enter the match on Sunday feeling healthy, rested, and prepared to make a statement against his former team.