With Cup battle looming, Liverpool aiming to remind Brighton the Reds' model is best

The Seagulls and Reds have very similar business models, but Liverpool are operating on a higher plane than their cup foes.

Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool FC - Premier League | Steve Bardens/GettyImages

As we shift our focus to the League Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, Liverpool will do battle with a worthy opponent, Brighton Hove & Albion.

The Seagulls have been one of England's pleasant surprises in recent years as they have morphed into legitimate European candidates each and every season and they are not afraid to score a result against one of the big English sides, Liverpool included.

They have largely gotten to this point through elite level youth scouting and working the global transfer market to find deals on underrated players before turning them into better versions of themselves.

They also do this while playing an attractive style of football that allows the players to express themselves and challenges even the most talented of teams.

If this all sounds familiar to you as a Liverpool fan, it's because it is very similar to how we operate on a day-to-day and month-to-month basis. However, there are some differences to remember.

Brighton nurtures talent, Liverpool evolves it

There is perhaps no better example of this idea than Alexis Mac Allister. Our current No. 10 was acquired from Brighton for a mere £35 million and he has proven to be worth more than double that amount for the Reds.

Macca joined the Seagulls from Argentinos Juniors as a 20-year old from the Argentinian top flight. He was seen as a youngster with loads of potential that they could develop into a star player.

Their plan worked as he, alongside Moises Caicedo, helped Brighton take the Premier League by storm. Soon, they were on the radar of all the big clubs across Europe.

Roberto De Zerbi, Alexis Mac Allister
Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League | Matthew Lewis/GettyImages

However, there came a point where it was clear that both players had hit their ceilings at the club as Brighton were not competing at the very highest table of Champions League football or challenging for Premier League titles.

Once he joined Liverpool, a club that while massive, also operates a lot like a mid-sized team, he hit a new gear. The resources and coaching available at Anfield proved to be just what he needed as he became an integral part of the Reds side and in the Argentina setup even further.

He is now one of the few names that is locked into the Starting XI each week for Arne Slot.

An even more pronounced look at Liverpool evoloving a talent is of course, Mohamed Salah. He has become one of the best players in the world at Liverpool following decent but not dizzying spells at Fiorentina, Roma and Basel.

Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott are other players that have taken their games to unexpected heights while plying their trade for the Reds.

Liverpool are where Brighton want to be

While it is more than admirable that the Seagulls have stuck to their methods and continue to churn out results and talents, there is very clearly a limit to where they can take this.

As much as they maneuver financially, flip players and finish Top 8, they will never have the funds and tools of a Liverpool or Arsenal for example.

Chelsea v Liverpool - Carabao Cup Final
Chelsea v Liverpool - Carabao Cup Final | Julian Finney/GettyImages

Liverpool have once again become one of the most successful clubs over the last decade through imperious scouting and finding great deals, but they also have the ability to spend big money when the moment calls for it.

Winning trophies is an expectation when you play for Liverpool, and the players know this and raise their game to match the pressure or they won't be long for Merseyside.

That kind of pressure does not exist on the coast for Brighton. Of course their fanbase would love more, but they are more than content playing great football while churning out new sides every 2-3 years.

Wednesday's Cup clash between the two will be another chance for Slot and his charges to remind the footballing world the similarities don't go beyond business ideas for these two proud clubs.