With just 10 Premier League games remaining in both the 2023–24 campaign and Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, the business end of the season will have officially begun when Liverpool’s season begins after the March international break.
This month’s international break, which is typically seen with a mixture of disdain and frustration, may potentially be well embraced at Liverpool, giving the Reds some much-needed rest and recuperation time before tackling the challenges ahead.
Liverpool knows that a victory over Brighton on Sunday, March 31, could potentially propel them back to the top of the standings. That same day, Arsenal will visit Manchester City.
But winning is by no means a certain. In the last eight matches between the teams in all competitions, Klopp’s team has only triumphed once, and has lost the last four meetings against the Seagulls.
The results of the last three Premier League matches at Anfield were a tie, a loss, and a draw.
Brighton’s play of late has been inconsistent and if the Reds are on it they should have enough to break their run of poor form against the Seagulls, but there is also the added narrative here that Roberto De Zerbi might use the match to help audition for his next position.
This is the possible lineup for Liverpool vs Brighton.
Alisson has stayed on Merseyside to continue his recuperation from the hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since early February, opting not to go on international duty for the fixtures in March.
Alisson is not one of the players that Klopp has mentioned in reference to those who are getting close to returning following the international break; instead, Caoimhin Kelleher will likely extend his goal scoring streak against Brighton.
Ibrahima Konate, who has missed Liverpool’s last three games due to an injury, was called up for France. On March 31, he should start alongside Virgil van Dijk against Brighton, assuming he is healthy once more and doesn’t injure himself while playing for the national team.
Although he was left off of the starting lineup for the previous Premier League match against Manchester City, Andy Robertson ought to start here rather than Kostas Tsimikas or Joe Gomez.
According to certain rumors, Trent Alexander-Arnold may soon aim to make a comeback, although it’s most likely to happen after this match. Conor Bradley, who is quite good, will continue to play right back.
Curtis Jones may be included in the squad for Brighton’s visit, according to Jurgen Klopp. Due to an ankle sprain, the homegrown midfield player has not played since February 17th’s victory over Brentford.
Jones, who was a vital member of Klopp’s team prior to his injury, is likely to start the game off the bench if he is available. If all three players are healthy, a midfield trio consisting of Dominic Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Alexis Mac Allister can be expected.
There will also be other choices for the engine room, like Harvey Elliott and maybe Ryan Gravenberch.
Intriguingly, the management has hinted that Stefan Bajcetic would likely make his first appearances since September when he returns to team training following the international break.
Three further forwards sustained injuries at the exact moment that Mohamed Salah made his Liverpool comeback.
Following Sunday’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United, there were worries concerning Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and Darwin Nunez as all three seemed to experience some discomfort during the match, which lasted 120 minutes.
Luis Diaz has, nevertheless, continued to play for the Colombia national team, and worries about the seriousness of his groin problem have subsequently subsided. Gakpo, meanwhile, is also serving in the Netherlands, and there has been no update on his possibly damaged ankle.
Out of the three, only Darwin Nunez has been left off of his national team’s roster this month. It’s unclear how severe his hamstring injury, which kept him out of four games last month, has gotten worse.
It is anticipated that Diogo Jota will rejoin the team in April.
ESTIMATED LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER CITY TO START IN XI
(4-3-3): Salah, Gakpo, Diaz; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Kelleher
