Prediction: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Liverpool

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 3/2

Bookmaker: Luckster

Liverpool will be eager to return to winning ways on Monday as they travel to the Amex Stadium, aiming to avoid a third straight Premier League match without victory – a first under Arne Slot. After wrapping up the title, they failed to beat second-placed Arsenal at home, but the Reds will want to finish strongly in their final away game of the campaign.

Brighton, meanwhile, are still clinging to faint European hopes after edging Wolves in their last outing.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton’s late-season revival has kept their European hopes alive, especially after a 2-0 win at Wolves – a match highlighted by Danny Welbeck reaching double digits in league goals for the first time. With Fabian Hurzeler’s side now in striking distance of eighth place, the Conference League remains a realistic target, especially if Chelsea lift the trophy and finish sixth or seventh.

The Seagulls have found some rhythm again with seven points from their last three matches, but defensive frailties remain a concern — they’ve failed to a clean sheet in six straight home games. That vulnerability could be exposed against a title-winning Liverpool side who have already beaten them twice this season.

However, Brighton will take some comfort in their recent league record against the Reds at the Amex, where they haven’t lost a Premier League match to Liverpool since March 2022.

Team News

Brighton have received a triple boost ahead of Monday’s clash with Liverpool, as Joao Pedro returns from suspension, and both Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman are fit again after recent injuries.

However, Georginio Rutter (ankle) is unlikely to feature until the final matchday, and long-term absentees, including former Liverpool vice-captain James Milner, as well as Ferdi Kadioglu and Solly March, remain sidelined.

Despite Veltman’s return, he may find it difficult to reclaim the right-back spot from Mats Wieffer, who has impressed in the role and has a strong connection with incoming Liverpool boss Arne Slot. Up front, Joao Pedro is expected to slot in behind Welbeck, who leads Brighton’s scoring chart with 10 league goals.

Liverpool

Liverpool fans have had few reasons to question Slot this season, but his in-game management against Arsenal last weekend drew rare criticism. The Reds raced into a 2-0 lead through Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz, but Arsenal fought back with Gabriel Martinelli’s early second-half strike, before a key substitution shifted momentum further.

Slot’s decision to introduce the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold – met with boos – proved costly, as the fullback played Mikel Merino onside for the equalizer, allowing Arsenal to snatch a point. It marked only the third time in Premier League history that Liverpool have failed to win at Anfield after leading by two goals at halftime.

Despite securing the title, the Reds have looked flat and disengaged lately, and are now at risk of going three league games without a win for the first time this season.

However, Liverpool have not lost their final away league game of a season since 2017/18, a run they’ll look to preserve as fans head to the Amex for one final road trip.

Team News

Slot spoke little on the subject of team selection ahead of this match, which seems to indicate that Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton still aren’t ready to return to action.

The Liverpool boss did leave the door open to for the possibility of Alexander-Arnold starting, given the need to manage Conor Bradley’s fitness carefully. On the other hand, Jarell Quansah, even though a centre-back by trade, might be a less controversial option at this point.

Conclusion

With the title already wrapped up, Liverpool appear to be coasting toward the finish line, and their recent lapses suggest a side with one eye firmly on the celebrations ahead. In contrast, Brighton still have European ambitions to fight for and will treat this clash with far more urgency.

While the Reds boast a remarkable record of scoring in every away league match this season – a streak likely to continue – their defensive fragility could prove costly once again. Expect Hurzeler’s motivated, attack-minded Brighton side to exploit those weaknesses and potentially snatch a vital win to keep their continental hopes alive.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 3/2

Bookmaker: Luckster