Liverpool vs Brighton Prediction: Ekitike on target again for the Reds

Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion, both without a win in their last two Premier League games, meet at Anfield on Saturday (15:00 GMT). The Reds and Seagulls are level on 23 points after 15 rounds of fixtures, with the latter ahead by virtue of a better goal difference.

Below are my Liverpool vs Brighton predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, as the visitors go in search of their first win at this stadium since February 2021.

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Team News

Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley is suspended after picking up his fifth Premier League yellow card of the campaign in last Saturday's 3-3 draw at Leeds United, so Joe Gomez, who dropped down to the bench for Tuesday's 1-0 win at Inter Milan in the Uefa Champions League, will return to the starting XI against Brighton.

Cody Gakpo (muscle) and Wataru Endo (ankle) recently joined Jeremie Frimpong (muscle) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) in the Reds' treatment room, with both missing out on the midweek trip to Milan.

While Gakpo and Endo are unavailable again on Saturday, Federico Chiesa, who was also left on Merseyside to recover from an illness, is ready to return to action.

Alexander Isak (knock) is a slight doubt, so if he does make the squad, expect him to be utilised from the bench.

All eyes are on Mohamed Salah, who was left out of the squad on Tuesday following his outburst at Elland Road last weekend.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was coy on the Egyptian's involvement in Saturday's match, telling reporters on Friday: "I will have a conversation with him this morning and the outcome of that conversation will determine how it looks tomorrow."

Football Odds

As for Brighton, boss Fabian Hurzeler has confirmed that Stefanos Tzimas will miss the rest of the 2025/26 season with a knee injury.

"He has already started his rehab. He will have surgery soon. We have big trust in the doctors and in our medical department," said Hurzeler.

Hurzeler has been boosted by the return of four players this weekend, though.

He said: "We have Kaoru Mitoma, James Milner, Tommy Watson and Yasin Ayari back. That’s the positive news."

Adam Webster and Solly March remain sidelined with knee injuries.

Liverpool vs Brighton Odds

Liverpool have won the last two head-to-heads at Anfield by a 2-1 scoreline; the Reds are 7/10 to triumph again on Saturday, implying 58.5% probability of success, while another 2-1 in their favour can be backed at 7/1.

Brighton are 7/2, or a 22.2% chance, to claim back-to-back away wins, following their 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on November 30, while the draw is priced at 16/5.

Joe Gomez To Be Carded has been boosted to 4/1 (was 16/5).

Player to Have 2 or More Shots - Jan Paul van Hecke (BHA) @ 6/1

This looks like a big price for a player who has recorded 2+ shots in three of his last five appearances for Brighton, including his last two.

Jan Paul van Hecke shot twice in Brighton's goalless draw at Crystal Palace on November 9, three times in their 4-3 home defeat to Aston Villa on December 3, and twice in last Sunday's 1-1 draw with West Ham United at the Amex Stadium.

Today's Football Fixtures

The 25-year-old registered one effort in last season's corresponding fixture at Anfield, trying his luck from outside the penalty area in the 89th minute.

Liverpool conceded a shot to Leeds centre-back Pascal Struijk last Saturday, while in their last two league games at Anfield, an opposition centre-back has recorded three shots; Nottingham Forest's Murillo, who scored with one of his efforts in a 3-0 win on November 22, and Sunderland's Omar Alderete.

The Reds look vulnerable from set-pieces, and Van Hecke will feel he can profit on Saturday.

Anytime Goalscorer - Hugo Ekitike (LIV) @ 13/10

Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Isak have all failed to impress since joining Liverpool during the summer, but one signing who has hit the ground running is Hugo Ekitike, whose brace at Elland Road last weekend took his season tally to eight goals, five of which have been scored in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old has found the back of the net in four of his nine league starts for Slot's side, and he's been impressive in other aspects, too, holding the ball up well and bringing others into play.

With Gakpo out injured, doubts over Isak's fitness, and a decision yet to be made over Salah's selection, Ekitike looks like the only attacker nailed on to start for Liverpool this weekend, and he should play most, if not all, of the game.

Brighton shipped four goals at home to Aston Villa on December 3, with visiting striker Ollie Watkins helping himself to a couple of goals on the South Coast, where West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen profited three days later, too.

Ekitike should fancy his chances of adding to his Premier League tally on Saturday, and after failing to score at Anfield since he was sent off there against Southampton on September 23, you imagine he will be desperate to do so.