Brighton & Hove Albion head to Anfield on Sunday (2pm, and remember the clocks go back) in the best form of the Premier League era. Fabian Hürzeler’s side are third in the table on 16 points, four ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, and nobody in the division is scoring more. Nick Staunton reports
Form: Four Wins, 15 Goals, None Conceded
Albion have won their last four league games by an aggregate score of 15-0. That run includes a 3-0 win over Arsenal and 5-0 thrashings of Coventry and Crystal Palace. Last weekend’s derby demolition was effectively over inside ten minutes, and Diego Gómez scored from his own half.
Brighton have scored 23 goals in their first seven league games. According to Opta’s The Analyst, they are the first team to do that since Manchester City in 2022-23. They’ve conceded just five.
Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Jablonec in the Conference League, Hürzeler’s 100th game in charge, ended a six-game winning run in all competitions. With a rotated side out that night, Albion should have fresh legs for Sunday.
Liverpool: Wobbly at Home
Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool are a puzzle. They came from 2-0 down to beat Villarreal 4-3 in the Champions League on Tuesday, but they haven’t won any of their last five league games at Anfield. Alexander Isak has five goals in five league games, and Florian Wirtz leads the league for chances created. The hosts will be without Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong.
History is on Liverpool’s side, though. Brighton have lost on their last four visits to Anfield, including a 2-0 league defeat and a 3-0 FA Cup exit last season. Albion did beat Liverpool 2-1 at the Amex in March.
Team News
Brighton are still without Kaoru Mitoma, Yankuba Minteh, Evan Ferguson and Stefanos Tzimas. Mats Wieffer is pushing to return from a knee injury, and Pascal Struijk and Femi Azeez face late fitness checks.
Greek teenager Charalampos Kostoulas is expected to lead the line again. He was rested on Thursday and has both scored and assisted in two of his last three league games.
Predicted Brighton XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Kadioglu, Vuskovic, Dunk, Boscagli; Gross, Andrés; Gómez, Ayari, De Cuyper; Kostoulas.
Brighton Local
The city is buzzing, and not just on the terraces. Albion’s run is good for local business, as one Brighton bakery has found (read more here). Fans heading to the Lanes to watch Sunday’s game should book ahead, as the pubs will be packed. The club’s partnership with Guide Dogs to make match days more accessible continues to win praise from supporters.
Our Prediction
Opta gives Liverpool a 47% chance of winning, with Brighton on 27% and the draw on 26%. That feels harsh on an Albion side playing like this. Liverpool are vulnerable at home and leaked three goals to Villarreal on Tuesday. Brighton’s pressing and pace in transition could hurt them. Liverpool 2-2 Brighton. A point at Anfield would keep Albion firmly in the top three, before a trip to league leaders Manchester City next Saturday.
Related Reading
- Brighton This Weekend: Palace Derby, Comedy Festival and New Openings
- Brighton & Hove This Week: The Comedy Festival’s Big Finish, a Haunting at the Theatre Royal and Where to Eat
- Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Teams Up With Guide Dogs to Make Match Days More Accessible
