Liverpool vs Brighton Prediction: Rested Ekitike could spark Gakpo attack

Liverpool meet Brighton & Hove Albion this Saturday, February 14 (20:00GMT, TNT Sports 1) in one of those FA Cup fourth-round cup ties that makes you go “oh”. No offence to the reigning Premier League champions or Brighton and their obsessed-over ‘model’, but an all-Prem tie this early in the competition? On Valentine’s Day no less? It’s not the stuff of romance is it?

But alas, Cupid’s arrow is trained on Anfield. Here are my Liverpool vs Brighton predictions with the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Dominik Szoboszlai returns from suspension after the bizarre incident against Manchester City where the referee denied a goal in order to stop play and send Szoboszlai off for denying a goal. VAR, eh? Gotta love it.

The utility man will be sorely needed. Szoboszlai had been filling in at right back due to an injury crisis in the position. Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong were already on the shelf. That necessitated Wataru Endo playing there during Szoboszlai’s suspension in the 1-0 win at Sunderland. But the Japan international was then stretchered off himself and will miss out here.

Liverpool will also be without Alexander Isak (broken leg) as his post-Newcastle nightmare continues. 

Brighton’s midfield veteran Solly March has been battling knee issues that have confined him to 15 appearances in the last three seasons, and none this term. Fabian Hurzeler will also have to do without Adam Webster due to his own season-ending knee injury. 

Happier news may come with a return for Yasin Ayari, who is potentially available following a shoulder injury. Hurzeler did offer encouraging signs over Netherlands international Mats Wieffer recently as he recovers from a toe injury that has kept him out for a number of games.

Liverpool vs Brighton Odds

Liverpool are priced at 8/15 to get the job done here. Brighton are your 9/2 underdogs while the draw is priced at 7/2.

The electric Hugo Ekitike is 5/6 to score anytime, leading the goalscorers market. Liverpool to win both halves is 23/10.

Cody Gakpo to score anytime @ 11/10

With Isak on the treatment table, Liverpool boss Arne Slot might use the FA Cup to rest key man Hugo Ekitike. The Reds’ top scorer is the only fit senior striker in a squad heavily-weighted towards wide forwards like Mohamed Salah or deeper-lying attacking threats like Florian Wirtz.

Which is why Slot might trust Gakpo to lead the line for this fourth-round tie, as he did in the 4-1 over Barnsley in the previous round. With the opportunity to get on the end of the creative talents around him, I make Gakpo a good bet for a goal on Saturday afternoon.

Liverpool to win to nil @ 9/5

Brighton are not the most prolific side, with their 34 goals this term sitting as the 13th-best scoring record in the Premier League. The previous league meeting between these two was a 2-0 home win in Liverpool’s favour. 

Despite Slot looking likely to rest goalkeeper Alisson, the Merseysiders have the luxury of one of the best second-choice stoppers in England in . Giorgi Mamardashvili is only 25 years of age and an experienced number one for Valencia in La Liga. Look for the Georgia international to stake a claim with a spotless net here.

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