Brighton v Liverpool predictions: Title-chasing visitors can grind out victory

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Brighton v Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bets

Liverpool to win 1-0
1pt 17-2 bet365

Liverpool to win 2-0
1pt 8-1 bet365

Team news

Brighton
Defender Adam Webster is injured. Jeremy Sarmiento and Enock Mwepu are doubts.

Liverpool
Roberto Firmino is back in training but is unlikely to be rushed back into the starting 11.

Match preview

Jurgen Klopp rarely has cause to criticise Liverpool's prolific forwards but he was unimpressed by their "slapstick" finishing in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Inter.

The Reds progressed to the quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate despite a 1-0 home defeat to the Italian champions, who might have given them even more of a scare had Alexis Sanchez not been sent off just after Lautaro Martinez's 61st-minute goal at Anfield.

Klopp will be hoping to avoid any more comedic misses in front of goal when Liverpool return to the serious business of chasing down leaders Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

He and his players will not be taking hosts Brighton lightly after the Seagulls came from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw at Anfield in October's reverse fixture.

However, Brighton's poor form suggests the Reds should enjoy their spring trip to the Sussex coast and splitting stakes between a 1-0 and 2-0 away win could prove profitable.

Klopp has a spectacular array of attacking options as Roberto Firmino is back in training to compete for places up front with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Divock Origi and impressive January signing Luis Diaz.

But Liverpool's defensive players have been just as important in recent weeks, providing a rock-solid base as the Reds won the EFL Cup, reached the last eight of the Champions League and FA Cup, and rejuvenated a league title race that seemed to be over before City's shock defeat to Tottenham last month.

Other than a 6-0 rout of Leeds, who have the worst defensive record in the top flight, Klopp's men have had to work hard for their recent league wins.

Since the start of February they beat Leicester 2-0, with the second goal coming in the 87th minute, won 1-0 at Burnley, came from behind to beat bottom club Norwich 3-1, and saw off West Ham 1-0 at Anfield last time out.

They kept clean sheets in both legs of their EFL Cup semi-final against Arsenal, played out 120 goalless minutes against Chelsea in the final, and stood firm under pressure in a 2-0 first-leg win away to Inter.

Those performances suggest backing a low-scoring Liverpool win could be value especially as Brighton are short of confidence after four straight league defeats.

That run has come as a real shock to Graham Potter's charges given that they had lost only four of their first 23 league matches, although 12 of those games had ended in draws.

Potter's side have competed well with the top clubs, drawing twice against Chelsea and once with Arsenal as well as the comeback at Anfield, but they have won only one of their 15 matches against teams above them: a 2-1 home victory over flaky Leicester in September.

They have lost their last two at the Amex Stadium, 3-0 to Burnley and 2-0 to Aston Villa, between away losses at Manchester United and Newcastle and their only goal in their last four outings was a Lewis Dunk header from a corner against the Magpies.

Key stat

Four of Brighton's eight league defeats this season have been by a 2-0 scoreline.

Inside info

Brighton

Penalty taker Neal Maupay/Leandro Trossard
Free-kick wizardAlexis Mac Allister
Set-piece aerial threatLewis Dunk
Card magnetYves Bissouma

Liverpool

Penalty taker Mohamed Salah
Free-kick wizardTrent Alexander-Arnold
Set-piece aerial threatVirgil van Dijk
Card magnetFabinho

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