Premier League: A South Coast Soiree in the Sun Anyone?

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Liverpool

The Amex Arena on Monday night in the May sunshine will appeal to many football fans.

Throw in attractive hosts and the newly crowned Premier League champions and you have the recipe for an enjoyable evening.

And with the weekend’s results meaning Brighton can move into eighth spot in the standings with a draw, and the potential carrot of European football, this SBOTOP pundit thinks Premier League 2025 highlights could be incoming.

Talking Points

Brighton won 2-0 at Wolves last weekend, a result which lifted them to ninth in the table and kept alive their faint European aspirations.

A penalty from the evergreen Danny Welbeck set them on their way before substitute Brajan Gruda made the game safe late on with his first goal for the club.

It meant the 34 year-old has reached 10 goals in a Premier League season for the first time since his debut for Manchester United in November 2008.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side had won just one game in their past seven prior to the visit to Molineux but they have improved in recent weeks and a victory (or even a point) on Monday night would keep them in the hunt for a second European campaign in three years.

He has certainly made an impression in England since being offered a three year contract after leading St Pauli to the Bundesliga 2 title last year.

If the youngest ever coach in the top flight can guide his team to such an achievement, it will certainly surprise me.

Just look at this list of some of the players (Moises Caicedo, Ben White, Marc Cucurella, Leandro Trossard and Alexis Mac Allister amongst them), managers (Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi) and key staff (Dan Ashworth) who have left the club in recent years and you have to wonder just how they have continued to upset the big boys, even qualifying for European football last term.

So far this season, they have already seen off Manchester City, Man Utd, Spurs and held Arsenal and if they can add the Merseysiders to that list, their Euro dream may well become a reality.

If he is a manager making waves, it is impossible not to be impressed by his counterpart’s first season in English football too.

Arne Slot has guided Liverpool to a deserved league title, building on the excellent foundations laid by Jurgen Klopp and helped by a nucleus of players with talent and know-how, not least footballer of the year elect Mohamed Salah.

Premier League: Mohamed Salah scored in Liverpool's last match against Brighton & Hove Albion — Mohamed Salah playing for Liverpool against Chelsea

They should be unchanged from last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, while the hosts will be able to welcome back captain Lewis Dunk who has overcome a minor hamstring problem that caused him to miss victory at Wolves.

Forward Joao Pedro is available again following his three-match ban, while winger Kaoru Mitoma could return after missing four games with heel and back issues.

History

Since their very first meeting in 1908 – an FA Cup tie which finished 1-1 at Anfield (the Merseysiders won the second round replay 3-0) – Liverpool had predominantly dominated the fixture with 23 wins compared to seven Brighton successes and 12 draws.

Yet Brighton have been a thorn in Liverpool’s side in recent years.

Last season they held them to a 2-2 draw on the south coast as Simon Adringa and Dunk scored in a 2-2 draw.

The previous season, they beat them twice at home – once in the league and once in the FA Cup – and also enjoyed a 3-3 draw at Anfield.

Liverpool beat them 2-1 at home last Easter, their first victory over the Seagulls in five attempts.

On that occasion Luis Diaz and Salah scored after Welbeck had put Brighton in front.

They have also defeated them twice in four days this season – once in the League Cup on the south coast (2-3) and then a few days later at Anfield in the league 2-1) and have bene top of the table ever since.