Liverpool return to Premier League action at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday – and they could also return to the top of the table.
The Reds are currently second behind Arsenal on goal difference alone, but play before the Gunners this weekend. Consequently, if Jurgen Klopp’s men avoid defeat to the Seagulls, top spot will be theirs for a couple of hours.
But should they beat Brighton, then their ownership of first place will become more permanent, with Mikel Arteta’s side travelling to title rivals Manchester City in their own Premier League return later on in the afternoon.
City currently trail both Liverpool and Arsenal by a point. So if both the Reds and City win on Sunday, they will both leapfrog the Gunners. Meanwhile, a stalemate at the Etihad would see Liverpool build a two-point lead at the top of the table, providing they have defeated Brighton.
With next to nothing separating the three teams in the table with 10 games left to play, it could be a defining day in the Premier League title race. With that in mind, we take a look at what needs to happen for it to become a dream weekend for Liverpool…
Klopp is yet to taste victory over De Zerbi with the Reds winless from their last four meetings with Brighton. Their last win over the Seagulls came in March 2022 when the Reds ran out 2-0 winners. Since then, they have drawn 3-3 at Anfield, lost twice at the AMEX last season before drawing 2-2 last October.
It would be nice if this time around things proved to be rather more comfortable for Liverpool. Trailing Arsenal on goal-difference (+46 to +39) while only just ahead of Man City’s own total (+35), a convincing win for the Reds would certainly prove beneficial at a time when every single goal, never mind every point, matters more and more.
Mohamed Salah has scored four goals from his last three starts for Liverpool – the only problem is such a run is spread over three months and dates back to New Year’s Day!
The Egyptian has missed 12 games because of a combination of injury and international duty, having injured his hamstring at the Africa Cup of Nations. Yet despite being limited to six appearances for his club over the past three months, Salah remarkably still boasts five goals and five assists for the Reds in 2024.
Liverpool’s leading goalscorer this season with 21 goals, the 31-year-old will once again be chasing down the 30-goal mark for the fourth year running and fifth time in his Anfield career.
Meanwhile, standing third in the Premier League’s scoring charts with 15 goals behind Erling Haaland (18 goals) and Ollie Watkins (16 goals) and second in the assist charts (nine) behind the latter Pascal Gross, and Kieran Trippier (all 10), he’ll have his sights on a fourth Golden Boot and second Playmaker of the Season award.
Of course, Salah would happily sacrifice such individual prizes if it meant lifting aloft the Premier League and Europa League. But having been spared international duty with Egypt in March off the back of his recent return from a hamstring injury, the forward will be hungry to make up for lost time.
Starting against Brighton, who he’s recorded eight goals and seven assists against from 14 appearances, Salah will be looking to go on a goalscoring run to help fire his side to the title.
Caoimhin Kelleher can keep a clean sheet while we’re at it, to help bolster Liverpool’s goal difference at the other end. The Irishman has impressed in the absence of the injured Alisson Becker, but has only kept three shut-outs from the Reds’ 10 games without the Brazilian.
Keeping two in the Premier League, to accompany Alisson’s seven, Liverpool could do with their defence being at its meanest for the Premier League title run-in. Considering the manner of the four goals they conceded last time out at Old Trafford, a clean sheet would be either more of a morale boost.
