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Liverpool news: Arne Slot confirms triple injury blow for Brighton game but win predicted
Liverpool are preparing to face Brighton for the second time in four days, with a Premier League match at Anfield following close behind the win on the south coast.
The Reds got the better of the Seagulls in a 3-2 victory in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night and now face the same opponents again in a quirk of the fixture list. Arne Slot and his players will certainly know what to expect from Brighton, who gave them a good run for their money despite Cody Gakpo’s brace sending them into the quarter-finals, where they will face Southampton.
The side is likely to be rotated once again on Saturday as Liverpool try to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. Last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal saw City take a one-point lead and Slot’s side can’t afford to take their foot off the gas.
It won’t be straightforward against a good Brighton side – and they also have injuries to contend with. Here are the latest headlines from Mirror Football involving the club.
Jota and Alisson ruled out
Liverpool will be without goalkeeper Alisson and striker Diogo Jota for this weekend’s game. Alisson has missed four games with a hamstring injury, while Jota was injured in the 2-1 win over Chelsea recently.
“I think I said it already a few times that it is always difficult to tell you exactly when they are ready because especially the last phase of the recovery can always be a few days extra or less,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference. “The fact is that they are not there before the international break and let’s see if they can join us after.”
Liverpool will also be without Federico Chiesa, who won’t be available until after the international break. The summer signing has played just twice for Liverpool so far due to lingering injury problems.
Diogo Jota was injured in the 2-1 win over Chelsea ( Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Merson backing Reds
Paul Merson thinks Liverpool will make it back-to-back wins over Brighton this weekend. The former Arsenal midfielder has submitted his predictions for the Premier League action and is backing the Reds for a 3-1 win.
“Liverpool are going along nicely now,” Merson told SportsKeeda. “They had a brilliant result in the cup against Brighton and I think they win again this weekend. Last week against Arsenal, I thought they produced a top performance to come from behind and get a draw.
“I look at Brighton and they are one of them teams – if they are hot, they’re really hot but if not, they struggle. This is a difficult game for Liverpool but I still expect them to show the quality and get the three points.”
Cody Gakpo scored twice in the win at Brighton ( Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Slot defends Quansah
Jarell Quansah did not have a good time at Brighton on Wednesday night, but he has received the backing of his manager. Quansah gave the ball away for Brighton’s first goal and saw the second one deflect off him.
Slot substituted the young defender in an attempt to hold onto the lead, but is happy with his performance. “I think Jarell played a very good game, the only issue he has at the moment is that if he has a moment that is not perfect, it immediately leads to a goal,” he said.
“That’s what happened in this game. In my opinion he was unlucky. I know you can’t judge and leave those two moments out because they were so vital towards the result, but he is getting better and better and better, and he was already really good.
“For him, it’s that last step maybe to make. He has already shown in the past that he can play a game without these small mistakes. So he is in a bit of an unlucky period when it comes to if he makes a small mistake, it immediately leads to a goal. But if you look at his overall performance, I really liked what I saw.”
MIRROR