Brighton (H) - Sun 31st Mar 2024 (2:00pm)

[Trumo]

Work-rate. Incisiveness. Nous.

 

I don't ask for much.

 

This is how it's gonna be. Build from the ground up.

 

Note the kick-off time. Also note that the clocks go forward by 1 hour on Sunday. It's all club football now until the end of the season following the latest needless international break. I understand that international coaches want to have time with their players as they plan their squads for the Euros, but these games are usually a mish-mash with loads of players dropping out, others getting a game due to recent form/hype, and the debut of a new kit or two. More importantly, these games come at exactly the point where clubs look to knuckle down for the business end of the season. In our case, we always seem to lose a player or two in completely avoidable circumstances. Look how many City and Arsenal players have either cried off or picked up a 'knock' in the last week or so. No doubt they will be 100% come the weekend.

 

The corresponding fixture last season was De Zerbi's first game in charge, after Graham Potter left to take up the big money and set up his peculiar brand of controlling football but no goals at Chelsea. At this point it's a wonder why Boehly and co. just didn't buy Brighton rather than Chelsea, given that they've single-handedly ensured that Brighton don't fall foul of PSR. Jurgen's Reds were sloppy all day at the back (none more so than Trent) so whatever we did at the back was negated by our defensive frailties and lack of energy in midfield. Trossard had put Brighton 2-0 up in the first half, and we got one back before half time through Bobby, but only after a lengthy VAR check. Bobby danced through in the second half to find an equaliser, and we had our tails up for the first time all day. We took the lead when Brighton keeper Sanchez made a right hash of punching away a corner kick. The ball ricocheted off Webster into his own net. We should have used the momentum to make certain of the points, but more sloppy defending led to Trossard firing in his third for a hat-trick. 3-3 it finished, and Brighton were full value for that.

 

Under their Italian coach, they've largely resolved the issue with a lack of goals that Potter never managed to rectify, and they've done it with most of the same squad plus a few more previously unheralded players. They struggled to balance domestic and European commitments earlier this season, but now they only have the league to focus on. Two players that have been a thorn in our side, Mitoma and March, will both be absent with long-term injuries, and they have doubts over the availability of Joao Pedro (who's scored a lot of goals, mainly from the penalty spot, this season) plus Big Game James, who might miss out on a return to face his former club. They use Estupinan and Lamptey for width, and Adingra has emerged as Sadio-lite in recent months. Not just the streak in his hair, but the mix of pace, strength and goal threat from out wide is very reminiscent of our former No10.

 

For us, Robbo is a concern after twisting his ankle in midweek against Northern Ireland. Curtis, Trent and Diogo might be available again. We've heard nothing about Ali so I expect him to be unavailable. Joel and Thiago I don't think we will see again this season. Mo and Darwin didn't feature for their national sides this week. Hopefully we are starting to see an easing of the availability issues that have hampered us in recent months. While it has provided opportunities and experience for the Academy lads, you still need know-how at this stage of the season. Hopefully the training sessions this week are fruitful and effective in getting us prepared and into the right mode for the run-in, as we still have 2 trophies to compete for. City and Arsenal face each other this weekend so there will be dropped points either way. We have a great chance to capitalise, but we will require maximum motivation, concentration, attitude and application from first minute to last, as always. 3 points please. Get it done!

 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

No fucking about.

 

Apart from Robbo, I think we got through the international bollocks unscathed, so we can go strong, stay focused and get this done.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[Anubis]

Just win.

[Dapower]

Could do with a fast start no wasting the 1st half away like normal and the right line up please 

[Creator Supreme]

0-2, and Lewis Dunk to play like prime Beckenbauer!

[Pete]

Get it won. 

[Scott_M]

No idea who is / isn’t available. 
 

Go for the throat from the off.

 

Just fucking win. 

[El Rojo]

I don’t think we’ll win at Old Trafford, so we need to win just about every other game from now on. 

[Carra_is_legend]

1 hour ago, El Rojo said:

I don’t think we’ll win at Old Trafford, so we need to win just about every other game from now on. 

We better win that. Otherwise April might turn out to be a nightmare in terms of confidence with the last 4 games being away.

[Trojan1892]

Turned up brittle as fuck last few games against those twats get them battered.

[LFC 6 Times]

I think we'll batter these. 4 or 5-1

[an tha]

We are better than these but we have only won 1 of the last 8 meetings with them.

 

Time to put that right.

 

 

[Moctezuma]

Our record against this lot has been pretty poor lately, so hopefully we can alter that trend.

[VladimirIlyich]

Tough game this based on our recent record against them. 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Records count for nowt. Recently , Brighton have been a lot better than they are now and we've had a couple of seasons where we were worse than we are now.  It all depends on who shows up on Sunday.

[Bjornebye]

No excuses. Get it won. Hopefully watch City and Arsenal kick lumps out of each other in a feisty nil nil draw 

[Creator Supreme]

9 hours ago, Bjornebye said:

No excuses. Get it won. Hopefully watch City and Arsenal kick lumps out of each other in a feisty nil nil draw 

It will probably be us and Brighton kicking lumps out of each other in a feisty yet depressing nil nil draw.

[3 Stacks]

Klopp's been a bit scared of De Zerbi when we've played them, I feel like.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Looks like yer man is in full training.

[Creator Supreme]

1 minute ago, AngryOfTuebrook said:

Looks like yer man is in full training.

The goalposts at Anfield will be shitting themselves.

[Dapower]

26 minutes ago, Creator Supreme said:

The goalposts at Anfield will be shitting themselves.

Could do with Bruce pissing on them again then

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Nuñez and Konaté are both available.

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/lfc-fitness-update-robertson-jones-konate-nunez-bajcetic-and-more?fbclid=IwAR2aIM41fxZyfrfuZacNnPvDjRvpmcmD3Szj-bxUlENuB8_pEoDnWkUOFmY

 

[Razoray]

Since they beat Manchester United in Mid-September, Brighton have played 12 away league games. They have won two (against Forest and Sheffield United) drawn three (against Everton, Palace and West Ham) and lost seven. 

 

Get them battered

[Creator Supreme]

1 hour ago, Razoray said:

Since they beat Manchester United in Mid-September, Brighton have played 12 away league games. They have won two (against Forest and Sheffield United) drawn three (against Everton, Palace and West Ham) and lost seven. 

 

Get them battered

So what you're saying is, they're due a win.

[manwiththestick]

De Zerbi tactical masterclass incoming in front of his potential suitors? 

 

Just our luck that would be.