3 players to watch in the Liverpool vs Brighton Premier League meeting

Liverpool will host a sixth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion side, who have had a good record at Anfield in recent years.

The Reds won 3-2 at Brighton in midweek, a scoreline that flattered the home team.

Here are three players to watch ahead of Saturday’s clash.

Cody Gakpo

Dutch winger Cody Gakpo scored two goals in Wednesday night’s win.

Gakpo leathered in Liverpool’s first of the game just after half-time, and he scored the Reds’ second with a low, neat finish.

The 25-year-old has therefore given himself a really good chance of starting on Saturday ahead of Luis Diaz, who also started midweek.

After a really good European Championships in the summer, Gakpo has only scored in the League Cup in this campaign so far, scoring four goals in two games.

If he does start Gakpo will likely have to go up against first-choice right-back Joel Veltman after proving successful against his deputy Tariq Lamptey midweek.

Cody Gakpo had not scored against Brighton until Wednesday.

Danny Welbeck

There have been a lot of good young players to be developed at Brighton using their Moneyball system of recruitment in recent years.

They have also utilised older undervalued players, one of these is Danny Welbeck.

Welbeck, 33, has scored six goals in nine Premier League games this term, filling the void left by injured striker Joao Pedro.

Welbeck has scored in the last three Premier League games against Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The former Manchester United forward has already improved on his goal tally from last season.

It will be up to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to remain physical while Welbeck is on the pitch, to be able to contain him.

Welbeck has scored three goals in 24 career appearances against the Reds, two of those goals have come in the past couple of seasons.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold will be crucial if Liverpool are to beat Brighton at Anfield on Saturday.

‘TAA’ will need to continue his good defensive work this season defending against tricky Brighton winger Kauru Mitoma.

Alexander-Arnold will also need to be successful on the ball, as Liverpool will look to dominate the game at home.

Trent has only earned one assist this season, for Luis Diaz against AFC Bournemouth in September.

While Alexander-Arnold has never scored against Brighton, he earnt two assists against the Seagulls in a 2-1 Liverpool win in 2019.