Liverpool vs Brighton preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

• Over 2.5 goals

• Both teams to score

• Liverpool to win

Liverpool responded well to last weekend's crushing late defeat against Manchester City by becoming the first Premier League side to win at Sunderland this season. Now, they turn their attention to what remains the club's most realistic hope of silverware, with Brighton their visitors in the FA Cup fourth round.

Arne Slot’s team will welcome this weekend’s return to Anfield where they have not lost any of their last 11 home encounters with Brighton (W8 D3) since suffering a 2-1 defeat in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February 1983. The Reds have also won four of their last five games against the Seagulls across all competitions (L1).

Interestingly, however, Liverpool have been eliminated from six of their last nine FA Cup fourth-round ties and crashed out at this stage last season to Plymouth Argyle. In the Premier League era (1992-93 onwards), the Merseysiders have been knocked out 13 times at this stage, at least two more than any other Premier League club (Spurs next on the list with 11).

Brighton arrive in Merseyside struggling for form, with victory over Manchester United to reach this stage one of only two wins (the other against Burnley) in the last 14 matches. Their fortunes turned for the worse in February with back-to-back 1-0 losses in the Premier League to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. Their away loss to the latter extended their unwanted winless league run to six games (D3 L3).

An FA Cup run would lift their spirits, as they have won their last three fourth-round ties in the competition, beating Premier League opposition each season. Indeed, since they were promoted to the top flight in 2017, they have advanced to the fifth round six times, with only Man City (eight) and Man United (seven) doing so more often since 2017-18.

The Seagulls also beat Liverpool 2-1 at the Amex Stadium in the fourth round of the FA Cup in January 2023, courtesy of goals from Lewis Dunk and Kaoru Mitoma, so perhaps there is reason to be optimistic of success for Fabian Hurzeler and his team.

Liverpool have not lost any of their last 11 home encounters with Brighton (W8 D3) since suffering a 2-1 defeat in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February 1983. The Reds have also won four of their last five games against the Seagulls across all competitions (L1).

Saturday’s contest will be the seventh FA Cup meeting between Liverpool and Brighton, with both teams progressing three times each – the Reds in 1907-08, 1990-91 and 2011-12 and the Seagulls in 1982-83, 1983-84 and 2022-23.

Liverpool’s Wataru Endo was stretchered off in the win at Sunderland after jarring his ankle. He will join Alexander Isak (leg), Jeremie Frimpong (thigh), Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni (both knee) in the treatment room.

Joe Gomez returned from injury in midweek to replace Endo at right-back, but it remains to be seen whether he is ready for a start this weekend. Slot will also consider recalling Dominik Szoboszlai after he served a one-match suspension against Sunderland.

Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez, Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha will all be hoping to force their way into the first XI. Mohamed Salah has recorded 10 goals and eight assists in 19 meetings with Brighton, so Slot may be tempted to keep the Egyptian in his starting lineup on the right flank.

As for Brighton, Stefanos Tzimas, Adam Webster, Solly March (all knee) and Yasin Ayari (shoulder) all remain sidelined with injuries, but Mats Wieffer is available to return to the matchday squad after recovering from a toe problem.

Former Liverpool midfielder James Milner, who equalled Gareth Barry’s all-time Premier League appearance record in midweek, could be handed a rare start in centre-midfield.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Chiesa

Brighton & Hove Albion: Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Boscagli, De Cuyper; Milner, Baleba; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck

Winless in five, scoring only three times and failing to keep a clean sheet, it's hard to make a case for Fabian Hurzeler's men. Their attacking struggles, combined with signs of defensive improvement for the hosts, all point to a Liverpool win and advancement to the next round.

Correct score prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton