Aiming to avoid going three Premier League games without a win for the first time this season, Liverpool hit the road for one final time in the 2024-25 campaign on Monday night, when Brighton & Hove Albion are their hosts at the Amex.
The Reds had their title party briefly spoiled by Arsenal last weekend, while the Seagulls took down Wolverhampton Wanderers in gameweek 36 and may still sneak into Europe.
Match preview
© Imago
Liverpool fans could probably count the number of wrong decisions Arne Slot has made this season with one hand, but the Dutchman arguably made a fatal error in last weekend's visit of Arsenal, whom the Reds stormed into a 2-0 lead against thanks to Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz's efforts.
However, the pendulum swung drastically at the start of the second half, as the re-energised Gunners cut the deficit in half through Gabriel Martinelli, not long before Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold was introduced to a cacophony of boos from the home crowd.
The atmosphere had already fallen flat on account of Liverpool's tepid start to the second half, and if bringing on the departing local lad did not already make matters much worse for the Premier League champions, Alexander-Arnold playing Mikel Merino onside for Arsenal's equaliser certainly did.
That 2-2 draw with their closest challengers - using that term loosely - marked just the third time in Premier League history that Liverpool failed to win a home game when leading by at least two goals at half time, but the Merseysiders are already on the beach, or in Slot's case the Ocean Beach club in Ibiza.
Nevertheless, those making the long trip south on Monday will not want to see the Reds go winless in three Premier League games for the first time this season, but not since the 2017-18 term have Liverpool suffered defeat in their last away game of a campaign.
© Imago
Speaking of teams producing the goods on rival turf, Brighton's penultimate away match of the season last weekend saw the Seagulls slay the Wolves at Molineux, where evergreen striker Danny Welbeck finally hit the 10-goal mark in a Premier League season.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker's penalty preceded a late Brajan Gruda clincher in the West Midlands, as Fabian Hurzeler's men kept themselves within touching distance of eighth place and the Conference League qualification spot that may come with it.
Even though Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup final, eighth will still suffice for the third-tier European competition if Chelsea win this year's edition but also finish sixth or seventh in the Premier League table, giving Brighton, Brentford, Bournemouth and Fulham hope yet.
After taking just two points from 15 on offer between March 15 and April 19, Brighton's springtime surge has seen the Seagulls collect seven from the last nine available in the Premier League, although failure to keep a single clean sheet in any of their last six home games does not make for pleasant reading.
Furthermore, Hurzeler's men have already been bested twice by Liverpool this term, a 3-2 home loss in the EFL Cup and 2-1 defeat at Anfield just a few days later, although not since March 2022 have Brighton been beaten by the Reds in a top-flight contest at the Amex Stadium.
Team News
© Iconsport
There was little in the way of team news in Slot's pre-game press conference, so it can be assumed that Joe Gomez is not yet ready to return from his hamstring problem, while Tyler Morton (shoulder) remains sidelined too.
Slot did not rule out the prospect of the Alexander-Arnold starting on the South Coast, especially if the injury-prone Conor Bradley is not risked from the start twice in the space of two weeks, but Jarell Quansah would be a more popular alternative.
Monday could be a day of two milestones for Mohamed Salah, who will set a new record for Premier League away goals in a single season by netting his 17th at the Amex, although he has now failed to score or assist in five of his previous seven appearances.
As far as Brighton are concerned, Hurzeler will be blessed with a triple boost for Monday's visit of the champions; Joao Pedro is back from suspension, while Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman have recovered from injuries.
However, Georginio Rutter (ankle) may only be an option for Brighton's last game of the season, while ex-Liverpool lynchpin James Milner (thigh), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) and Solly March (knee) are still recuperating from their issues.
The fit-again Veltman may have a hard time displacing makeshift right-back Mats Wieffer, a former favourite of Slot's at Feyenoord, but Pedro is primed to return to the final third behind 10-goal Welbeck.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Diaz
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Liverpool
Still in party mode and simply waiting for the final whistle to blow on the season so the real celebrations can begin, Liverpool could once again come out second best against a Brighton side with much more to play for.
Slot's men should still end the season having scored in every Premier League away game, but Hurzeler's goal-happy troops can capitalise on their visitors' increasingly frail backline to clinch what may still be a precious three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
