Liverpool vs Brighton: Salah back, Anfield on edge, season at a crossroads
Liverpool and Brighton meet at Anfield today, kick-off 15:00 GMT, 10:00 AM ET, with everything on the line. Both teams are locked on 23 points. Brighton sit ahead on goal difference. The headline is clear. Mohamed Salah is back in the Liverpool squad after talks with manager Arne Slot. The truce is fresh, the mood is tense, and the timing could not be bigger.
The Salah truce, and what it means now
I can confirm Salah has been reintegrated into the matchday group after a face-to-face meeting with Slot. The message in the camp is simple. Park it, play, win. This could be Salah’s final Anfield appearance before he joins Egypt for AFCON. That adds raw emotion to an already tight fixture. Expect the Kop to roar his every touch. Expect Brighton to test that fragile peace from the first whistle.
This is also about control. Slot needs his star to buy in. Salah needs rhythm before a major tournament. The rest of the squad need clarity. All eyes will be on the right flank, where Salah’s timing, movement, and composure can flip a game in a heartbeat.
Salah is set to depart for AFCON after today, which could rule him out of up to six Liverpool league matches.
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Form check, pressure rising
Liverpool arrive with the oddest stat line for a reigning champion. Just two wins in their last ten league matches. They have wobbled at home as well. Anfield has not carried the same force in recent weeks. The first half drought is real, and it has hurt them. The starts have been slow, the anxiety visible, the goals late and scrappy.
Brighton have their own December problem. They have not won a league game this month in a long stretch. Yet they walk into Anfield ahead on goal difference, calm in their plan, and ready to keep the ball when Liverpool want it most. Roberto De Zerbi is gone, but the identity remains. The Seagulls move it with purpose, invite a press, then hit the spare man.
The tactical fight, decided in the middle and out wide
This will be decided in two zones. Midfield, and both touchlines. Liverpool will press early, but they must pick their moments. If they jump as individuals, Brighton will pass through and punish. If they jump as a unit, they can box Brighton in and feed the crowd. Joe Gomez at right back brings balance and recovery pace. Florian Wirtz’s return adds craft between the lines, the pass before the assist, the drift into space that breaks shape.
Brighton’s plan is clear. Use Pascal Gross to knit play, slide Kaoru Mitoma into races against a full back, and trust the nine to pin Virgil van Dijk’s line. They have kept back-to-back away clean sheets recently, which speaks to their shape. But they can still be pressed into errors near their own box. Liverpool must be ruthless when those moments pop.
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The set piece battle is a swing factor. Liverpool need better delivery and near-post runs. Brighton are dangerous on rehearsed routines. One lapse, one screen, one free header, and the tone flips.
What is at stake today
- Liverpool need a reset, not a scrape. A clean show of control, energy, and bite.
- Brighton want more than a point. Three would push them into the top mix.
- Salah’s return is a spark, but it must be a plan, not a stunt.
- Slot’s selections send a message, trust, urgency, and standards.
Kick-off is 15:00 GMT, 10:00 AM ET. In the U.S., the match is available on Peacock and NBCSN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Mohamed Salah playing today?
A: He is back in the matchday squad after talks with Arne Slot. Expect him to feature, even if managed.
Q: Why is this match so important?
A: Both teams are tied on points. Liverpool need to stop a poor run. Brighton can climb with a statement win.
Q: Who is under the most pressure?
A: Liverpool. Home crowd, title expectations, recent results. Slot needs a clear, strong performance.
Q: How can Brighton win at Anfield?
A: Beat the first press, target space behind full backs, and stay sharp on set pieces. Their build-up can frustrate and steal the pace of the game.
Q: What time does the match start?
A: 15:00 GMT, 10:00 AM ET.
Conclusion
This is a crossroads afternoon at Anfield. Salah’s return carries heat and hope. Liverpool must turn noise into control, and control into points. Brighton arrive organized, fearless, and ready to test the champions. The stage is set, the stakes are heavy, and the margin for error is thin. ⚽
