Nunez starts & “magician” benched in predicted Liverpool lineup v Brighton

Liverpool are again in motion after what felt like an infinite worldwide break and can host Brighton & Hove Albion as they search to proceed their bid for the Premier League title.

Jurgen Klopp may need watched his complacent aspect crash out of the FA Cup towards rivals Manchester United two weeks in the past however the Reds path first-placed Arsenal solely on objective distinction within the league standings, with the Gunners heading to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Accidents have threatened to blight an enthralling marketing campaign – Klopp’s final as Liverpool supervisor – however the farewell parade stays firmly charted for achievement after a testing few months which have seen the Carabao Cup clinched and the hunt for the Europa League enter the final eight stage.

Curtis Jones may return after a near-two-month layoff, whereas Ibrahima Konate will likely be hoping to start out after lacking the previous few fixtures. Andy Robertson picked up a difficulty with Scotland however fears of a long-term drawback have been allayed and the previous Hull Metropolis ace could possibly be concerned.

With this in thoughts, Klopp may make three modifications to the staff that succumbed to defeat on the Theatre of Desires earlier than the worldwide break.

1
GK – Caoimhin Kelleher

Klopp described Caoimhin Kelleher as “the most effective no.2 on the planet” after his stellar exhibiting towards Chelsea within the Carabao Cup ultimate, however the greatest testomony that may given to the Irishman is that Alisson Becker’s absence hasn’t actually been felt, to not an ideal diploma.

Brighton have taken the sixth-most pictures within the league this time period, greater than Manchester United, and he’ll have to be centered towards slick, assured opposition.

2
RB – Conor Bradley

The cascade of academy expertise that has shot onto the scene for Liverpool this season is emblematic of the progress made below Klopp’s administration over the previous a number of years, and whereas there have been many high-level prospects break via this season, none have been higher than Conor Bradley.

Jarell Quansah has the makings of a high-class centre-back, whereas Bobby Clark is an thrilling and stylish midfielder, however the 20-year-old Bradley has been sensational, posting a objective and 5 assists since January.

3
CB – Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate has missed the previous few video games for Liverpool however he ought to return to the beginning line-up towards Roberto De Zerbi’s males.

Joel Matip’s season-ending harm again in December may have been detrimental to Liverpool’s marketing campaign however the Frenchman has come on leaps and bounds.

4
CB – Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk fell by the wayside final season however the captain’s armband seems to have pumped contemporary life into these prodigious legs, with the Netherlands star heralded for his “completely immense” shows by The Athletic’s James Pearce.

5
LB – Joe Gomez

Robertson may need prevented severe harm however could be sensible for Klopp to go for the prudent route, particularly with a continuous run of fixtures forthcoming.

Fortunately, Joe Gomez has been in tremendous type this season throughout a variety of positions, with the England worldwide’s power and multi-faceted ability set excellent for countering a possession-heavy Brighton risk.

6
DM – Wataru Endo

What a participant. He collects. Calm. Composed. Wataru Endo is aware of his environment, instinctively. Crisp passing, robust tackling, alert motion. He will get it.

Surprisingly signed from Stuttgart for £16m final summer time, the Japan worldwide is proving to be one of many shrewdest additions to Klopp’s tenure. And that is saying one thing.

7
CM – Alexis Mac Allister

Signed from Brighton final summer time, Alexis Mac Allister will likely be key in taking management in an important midfield battle, with the 25-year-old so influential because the kernel of Klopp’s system.

As per Sofascore, the 2022 World Cup winner has scored three objectives and equipped 4 assists throughout 23 Premier League matches this season, finishing 88% of his passes and averaging 1.2 key passes, 2.8 tackles, 5.7 profitable duels and 5.9 ball recoveries per recreation.

8
CM – Ryan Gravenberch

Having ebbed and flowed from type since becoming a member of Liverpool final summer time, Ryan Gravenberch will likely be hoping to hit a vein of consistency over the ultimate few months of the marketing campaign.

The £120k-per-week “magician” that’s Dominik Szoboszlai – as expertise scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed the Hungarian – may sit on the bench to accommodate Gravenberch, and with the video games coming thick and quick, this won’t be a nasty name.

9
RW – Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah is match and firing as soon as once more and he’ll play an instrumental half in Liverpool’s success over the approaching fixtures.

As per FBref, the Egyptian ranks among the many high 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for objectives and touches within the attacking penalty space, the highest 1% for assists and the highest 20% for progressive passes per 90.

He is clinched eight objectives and 7 assists throughout 14 matches towards the Seagulls, together with a brace within the reverse fixture this time period, again in October.

10
LW – Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz has been in tremendous fettle of late and whereas he is a tad wasteful in entrance of objective, this fleet-footedness and electrical actions down the left channel will likely be essential, stretching the Albion backline and permitting his friends to seek out area and strike on objective.

11
CF – Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez remained on Merseyside for Uruguay’s latest worldwide fixtures with a slight harm subject, however the 24-year-old is predicted to have recovered and can seemingly be on the centre of the motion towards Brighton.

So influential, Nunez has posted 17 objectives and 14 assists throughout simply 27 beginning appearances this season.

Predicted Liverpool XI in full vs Brighton: (GK) Caoimhin Kelleher; (RB) Conor Bradley, (CB) Ibrahima Konate, (CB) Virgil van Dijk, (LB) Joe Gomez; (DM) Wataru Endo, (CM) Alexis Mac Allister, (CM) Ryan Gravenberch; (RW) Mohamed Salah, (LW) Luis Diaz, (CF) Darwin Nunez