Liverpool travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton and Hove Albion in their next Premier League fixture and will hope to get revenge after the Seagulls embarrassed them at Anfield earlier this season.
The Reds threw away a 2-0 lead in a game that saw Naby Keita injured and skipper Jordan Henderson begin the poor run of form that led many to question his performances this season.
The former Sunderland star scored but he battled to control the midfield and allowed runners to bypass him – a trend that would continue.
Both players will want to star against Graham Potter’s side after Jurgen Klopp’s men were beaten in the UEFA Champions League by Inter Milan despite booking their place in the quarterfinals.
Draws have cost Liverpool this season in the title race
A common misconception this season is that Manchester City have been much better than Liverpool. They haven’t.
In fact, the Reds have scored three more goals and despite falsehoods about an overly high defensive line, Klopp’s side has conceded just two more goals than Pep Guardiola’s and therefore has a superior goal difference.
It’s the 6 draws that have cost Liverpool this season.
Chelsea home and away. Manchester City at home. Brentford away. Brighton at home. Tottenham away.
Liverpool have lost fewer games than the league leaders. They’re objectively more difficult to beat but they also lack control in games at times so they still offer teams glimmers of hope.
This was punished earlier in the season and Liverpool have had more luck recently but they have also improved their offside trap tremendously and aren’t given enough credit for the way they catch opposition forwards in no-man’s land.
Liverpool can take revenge against Brighton after Anfield embarrassment
The Seagulls didn’t just bring Liverpool back from 2-0 up back down to 2-2 but they very almost made it 3-2 but Leandro Trossard’s would-be winner was ruled out for offside.
It’s one of those games that was frustrating on the day but given the infinitesimally small margins that exist in Premier League title races between Liverpool and Manchester City, it may prove to be a godsend at the end of the season.
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However, both teams cannot win both their games and Liverpool will know that they can take the fate of the title race into their own hands with a win at the Etihad but they must win at the Amex Stadium first.
With the Reds looking to gear up and turn the heat up on the Cityzens, live betting sites offer you the chance to jump in and increase the stakes at play.
Brighton have lost their last four games in a row and have just one win in their last 6 games in all competitions.
They are in terrible form but that makes them dangerous for a side like Liverpool that has to win every single game until the end of the season.
Naby Keita will want to start after being benched for Curtis Jones vs Inter
The Guinean started from the bench against Inter Milan on Tuesday as the Reds slumped to a defeat in the Champions League.
He was withdrawn against Brighton before the 2-0 lead was conceded due to a hamstring injury.
It’s really interesting to consider what might happen with the former RB Leipzig midfielder’s future as contract is set to expire in 202 with just 15 months remaining.
He was signed for €75m (£69.3m) in 2018 and while injuries have held him back, the Reds need a reliable figure in the middle of the park and so can’t let sentimentality play into a decision over a potential contract extension.
If he can avoid injuries for the remainder of the season and play a pivotal role in Jurgen Klopp’s side winning more silverware this season, particularly pipping Manchester City to the Premier League and Champions League, many fans would campaign for his renewal.
It all starts at the Amex Stadium this weekend and before then, at the AXA Training Ground where he must now beat Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago to a starting role in the Liverpool side.