By Mark Strickland
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said playing Brighton for the second time in four days does not affect his preparation.
The Reds won 3-2 at the Amex on Wednesday evening thanks to a brace from Cody Gakpo and a third from Luis Diaz.
They will return to the south coast in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals to play struggling Southampton on December 17.
JÜRGEN KLOPP | THE FINAL INTERVIEW
In his press conference, Slot said: “Both teams didn’t start with the team they will start with on Saturday.
“The playing style might be the same but the quality of the players makes nine out of 10 times the difference.
“That changes the game on Saturday compared to the one on Wednesday.”
Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa, and Diogo Jota will be unavailable through injury until after the November international break at least.
On Chiesa, Slot added: “There is only a week to go. We are hoping he can do things again during the international break and that he can join us afterwards.”
Slot mentioned the left wing has ‘been in rotation’ and it is the position in which he has the biggest selection headache.
Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck – who has three goals in his last three league appearances – are expected to return to the Seagulls’ starting XI.
LIVERPOOL LOAN WATCH – CALVIN RAMSAY AND LUKE CHAMBERS
Predicted Lineup
XI: Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo
Tsimikas may start at left-back after Robertson’s recent struggles, even more so after the Scotland captain started twice in a week and played the 90 minutes on Wednesday.
Will Cody Gakpo start? Or should the question be: how can Slot drop him after his midweek brace?
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
CHECK OUT ALL THE CONTENT YOU’LL EVER NEED ON REDMENPLUS.COM