Recent meetings between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion have generally served up drama, goals and high-quality attacking football.
Two sides who prioritise what they do in the final third over their defensive solidity, it often leads to exciting clashes between the Reds and the Seagulls, with the teams ready to face off again after the March international break.
Roberto De Zerbi has been one of the names tipped to replace Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season and he will be offered an early audition at the end of the month, with Liverpool looking to end their recent hoodoo against the south coast side.
Here are how the sides have fared against one another in recent encounters.
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool – 8 October 2023
The meeting between the two sides earlier this season was an end-to-end affair, with the points shared on the south coast. It was the hosts who made the significantly stronger start, Simon Adingra taking advantage of former Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s error to beat Alisson – who was culpable as well – from long range.
However, quickfire goals from Mohamed Salah within six minutes of one another before the break flipped the game on its head, with the Egyptian continuing his impressive scoring record against the Seagulls.
Ryan Gravenberch had the chance to wrap up the points but hit the bar from four yards out after the restart, with skipper Lewis Dunk proving Brighton’s saviour with 12 minutes to play after converting Solly March’s free kick.
Brighton 2-1 Liverpool – 29 January 2023
Liverpool were arguably fortunate to be in the FA Cup fourth round during the 2022/23 season after some questionable officiating in their third round encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Brighton would send them packing with a late flourish at the Amex.
In the midst of a woeful run of form, Liverpool actually took the lead on the south coast thanks to Harvey Elliott’s effort, but they were pegged back before half-time by Dunk – who has scored more goals against Liverpool (three) than any other side.
Just as it seemed the tie would be heading to an unwanted replay, Kaoru Mitoma took advantage of some sloppy Liverpool defending in second-half stoppage time to send the Seagulls into the fifth round.
Brighton 3-0 Liverpool – 14 January 2023
Just two weeks prior to Liverpool’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton, they had suffered yet another humiliation on the road in the Premier League. The Reds were torn apart by De Zerbi’s relentless machine, and were fortunate not to be behind before the break.
However, March would steal the show in the second half, netting twice in seven minutes shortly after the break to punish a woeful Liverpool. Danny Welbeck would add a third with ten minutes to play as Klopp’s men left the Amex with their tails between their legs.
A devastating result for the Merseysiders, but a memorable victory for the Seagulls.
Liverpool 3-3 Brighton – 1 October 2022
A six-goal thriller ended all square at Anfield in the first half of the 2022/23 campaign, with Roberto Firmino and Leandro Trossard taking the spotlight for Liverpool and Brighton respectively in De Zerbi’s first game as Seagulls boss.
Brighton’s Belgian fired the visitors into a two-goal lead within 17 minutes at Anfield, with Firmino pulling one back for the Reds before the break. The Brazilian forward added his second of the game shortly after half-time and the Liverpool comeback was completed by an Adam Webster own goal just ten minutes later.
However, Trossard would pop up to ruin the afternoon for Liverpool supporters, grabbing his hat-trick with eight minutes to play in a breathtaking encounter.
Brighton 0-2 Liverpool – 12 March 2022
Liverpool were still chasing an unprecedented quadruple when they travelled to the south coast towards the end of the 2021/22 season, and they avoided a slip-up by beating Brighton 2-0 on the road.
Luis Diaz put Liverpool ahead after he latched on to Joel Matip’s through ball, although he got absolutely flattened by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for his troubles.
The Reds managed to double their advantage after the break and it was unsurprisingly Salah who put them two ahead, converting from the penalty spot to secure the points.