Liverpool vs Brighton: Anfield tests Hürzeler's run of clean sheets

Liverpool host Brighton at Anfield on Sunday, October 25, with a different question facing each side. The home team have just come from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 in the Champions League, but must recover and reorganise without several players. The visitors have won four consecutive Premier League games without conceding. They will try to carry that defensive form into a ground where Liverpool's attacking output presents a different test from those posed by recent opponents.

Two runs of form after midweek European fixtures

Liverpool won at Brentford last weekend before their comeback against Villarreal on Tuesday. Alexis Mac Allister scored twice in Europe and Florian Wirtz added another goal. Alexander Isak has five league goals; Wirtz has created 20 chances in the competition, according to figures released by Liverpool. The comeback showed the team's attacking options when they need to chase a game. It also made for a demanding evening just five days before Brighton's visit.

Andoni Iraola said on Friday that he has been changing his team every three or four days to share the workload. The Champions League line-up therefore offers no guarantee about Sunday's selection. Bradley Barcola trained normally again and Iraola declared him fit. Ryan Gravenberch has served his Premier League suspension and is available for selection. Both give the manager more options, but neither is a confirmed starter.

Brighton follow their 5-0 league win over Crystal Palace with a 0-0 draw against Jablonec in the Conference League. Fabian Hürzeler made eight changes between those games. Against Jablonec, Brighton had 79% possession and 23 shots, five on target, without scoring. The contrast frames their task at Anfield: maintain the organisation behind their defensive run and turn control of the ball into better chances against a side that can also press and win possession high up the pitch.

The space around the box and the price of losing possession

Brighton have scored 23 goals in their first seven league games while keeping clean sheets in their four successive league wins, according to Liverpool's statistical preview. That combination makes this more than an exercise in breaking down a deep defence. If the visitors play through Liverpool's first line of pressure, their midfielders could find the forwards before the home side have reset. If Brighton lose the ball while building from the back, Isak and his supporting attackers could run at a defence that has yet to close its shape. These are possible patterns, not plans announced by either coach.

Dominik Szoboszlai's absence removes an important option for Liverpool when moving the ball from midfield into attack. Iraola ruled him out on Friday. Víctor Muñoz is still dealing with discomfort after the Brentford match; the coach said his involvement looks difficult, while leaving the final decision open. Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined. The Guardian also lists Jeremie Frimpong among Liverpool's injured players. Gravenberch's return from suspension gives Iraola another way to organise the centre of the pitch.

Brighton's final squad is still unsettled. Hürzeler said on Friday that Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer might return if they complete team training and pass a subsequent assessment. Neither comeback is confirmed. Pascal Struijk continues to be monitored. Liverpool's pre-match team news identifies Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson, Femi Azeez, Stefanos Tzimas and Zadok Yohanna as expected absentees. Goalkeeper Jason Steele missed the Jablonec match through illness; his availability for Anfield was unconfirmed on Friday. Missing Thursday's game does not, on its own, rule a player out on Sunday.

Squad availability before kick-off

Based on the coaches' Friday, October 23, updates; final matchday squads may change.

Liverpool

• Bradley Barcola: fit, according to Iraola, after training normally on Friday.
• Ryan Gravenberch: eligible after serving a one-match Premier League suspension.
• Dominik Szoboszlai: ruled out of this match by the manager.
• Víctor Muñoz: doubtful because of discomfort; Iraola said his involvement looks difficult.
• Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni: remain sidelined.
• Jeremie Frimpong: listed among the injured players in The Guardian's team news.

Brighton

• Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer: possible returns subject to training and assessment; neither is confirmed.
• Pascal Struijk: under observation; Hürzeler warned against bringing him back too soon.
• Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson, Femi Azeez, Stefanos Tzimas and Zadok Yohanna: expected to be absent, according to Liverpool's pre-match team news.
• Jason Steele: missed the European game through illness; his availability for Anfield was unconfirmed on Friday.

How to watch Liverpool vs Brighton

• Competition: Premier League, Matchweek 8 of the 2026/27 season.
• Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, England.
• Kick-off at the ground: Sunday, October 25, 2 p.m. GMT.

United States

• Time: Sunday, October 25, 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT.
• Streaming: Peacock lists this specific match in its schedule.

Australia

• Time: Monday, October 26, 1 a.m. AEDT in Sydney.
• Streaming: Stan Sport lists Liverpool vs Brighton in its match schedule.

United Kingdom

• Time: Sunday, October 25, 2 p.m. GMT.
• TV: Sky Sports will show the match live, as confirmed by both clubs.

The fixture moved from Saturday to Sunday because of Brighton's European schedule. The extra day gives Hürzeler time to assess the players nearing a return; for Liverpool, the decision is how much to rotate without interrupting the attacking momentum of their recent wins.