Liverpool vs. Brighton: A Most Intriguing Fixture | OneFootball

Anfield will be alive with tension this Saturday as Liverpool welcome Brighton & Hove Albion in what promises to be one of the most intriguing fixtures of the Premier League weekend. With the Reds struggling to rediscover the form that saw them crowned champions just six months ago, and Mohamed Salah’s future at the club dominating headlines, this is far more than a typical top-flight encounter. 

Will this be Salah’s last hurrah at Anfield before he departs for AFCON? Or will this be another example of the “No Mo, No Problem” approach for Arne Slot? Either way, the stage is set. 

A Fragile Season for Liverpool

Liverpool’s season has been a study in uncharacteristic fragility. Sitting 10th in the table with just 23 points from 15 matches, they have already conceded 24 goals. This is the worst defensive start by a reigning Premier League champion since Leicester City in 2016-17. 

Defensive errors, misplaced passes, and a seeming lack of urgency have haunted the Reds from the opening whistle of the season. In fact, 48 goals conceded across 35 Premier League matches in 2025 means they could ship more than 50 in a calendar year. This ignominious “record” has only happened twice before, in 2012 and 2014. The defensive frailties are a stark contrast to the solidity that once defined a title-winning team.

Yet despite the turmoil, Anfield offers some historical reassurance. Liverpool have lost just one of their eight top-flight home meetings with Brighton (W5 D2). Worryingly, that defeat came in February 2021 – the only other occasion the Reds faced the Seagulls as reigning champions. 

History, however, is not a guarantee, and this season has shown that Liverpool are capable of faltering at any stage. A run of just two wins in their last 10 Premier League games has left supporters anxious, while draws against Sunderland and Leeds last weekend have done little to restore confidence.

Unpredictable Visitors

If Liverpool have been a story of decline, Brighton have been emblematic of unpredictability. Fabian Hurzeler’s side arrive at Anfield off the back of mixed results, having dropped points in consecutive matches against Aston Villa and West Ham after a four-match unbeaten run. Against the Hammers, Brighton were practically inert until the 89th minute, when Georginio Rutter salvaged a point with a late equaliser. Hurzeler’s assessment was brutally honest: “We did not deserve more than a point.”

Yet Brighton are no strangers to troubling Liverpool. Their 3-2 victory at the Amex Stadium in May was historic, and a win at Anfield would see them record consecutive league victories over the Reds for the first time. 

Their recent away form suggests they are capable of holding their own, with back-to-back clean sheets offering a blueprint for how to frustrate the champions. Brighton’s attacking inconsistencies are matched by flashes of quality, and their capacity to exploit Liverpool’s defensive lapses makes them a dangerous proposition despite their uneven season.

The Salah Question

No preview of this fixture would be complete without addressing the burning question hanging over Liverpool: Mohamed Salah. After being left out of the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League win at Inter Milan (a decision precipitated by his controversial benching in the 3-3 draw at Elland Road), the Egyptian’s relationship with Slot has become a focal point of discussion. Reports suggest the pair now have “no relationship,” raising serious questions over whether this will be Salah’s final appearance for the club before the Africa Cup of Nations.

The numbers tell a sobering story. Salah is posting career lows per 90 minutes in shots, shots on target, and touches in the opposition box. Defensively, he is the least involved of any wide forward playing over 270 minutes in the Premier League. Slot’s decision to omit Salah against Inter Milan followed by a hard-fought 1-0 victory has only fuelled speculation: is the team genuinely better off without him, or is this an uneasy truce waiting to unravel at the first sign of struggle?

The Most Intriguing Fixture

There are layers upon layers of intrigue surrounding this fixture. Will Salah be recalled for a potentially farewell performance at Anfield? Can Liverpool’s leaky defence finally find some solidity, or will Brighton’s pace and intelligent movement expose yet more cracks? 

Slot’s men will need to balance the demands of the Premier League with their ongoing European campaign, where qualification for the last 16 is still very much alive.

Off the pitch, the psychological narrative is equally compelling. Liverpool fans are torn between yearning for Salah’s redemptive return and embracing the idea that the team can function and even thrive without him. 

Brighton supporters, conversely, have little to lose and everything to gain. They can approach Anfield with belief, seeking to make history against a side that has looked mortal for the first time in years.

Whether Salah takes to the pitch or Slot maintains his “No Mo, No Problem” approach, Saturday’s clash promises to be a spectacle no fan will want to miss, a match that will be talked about long after the final whistle.

Bonus Podcast Clip on Salah