Brighton vs Liverpool combined XI: Dunk over Konate and Nunez misses out

 

 

Liverpool are set to travel to Brighton for a Premier League showdown on Sunday.

When Liverpool and Brighton square off in the Premier League on the south coast on Sunday, they will be hoping to build on their strong start to the year.

Last season, the Reds suffered a series of setbacks that included two losses at the American Express Community Stadium, but so far this season, they have won five of their opening seven Premier League games.

In addition, Express Sport examines the final combined XI in advance of the match.

Goalkeeper – Alisson

Alisson has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2018 and would line-up between the sticks, with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi still rotating between Jason Steele and Bart Verbruggen.

Alexander Arnold, Van Dijk, Dunk, and Robertson on defense
Liverpool conceded a hat trick of goals last season, and their defense was again found wanting.

However, after taking over as manager, Jurgen Klopp has tightened up the defense, with the team giving up an average of one goal per Premier League game.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, full-backs for the Reds, have won praise for their performances for many years and would start in a combined XI.

Pervis Estupinan has impressed for the Seagulls this season after a standout performance last time around, so Robertson’s inclusion isn’t inevitable.

Virgil van Dijk isn’t the player he was a few years ago but would still be called upon at centre-back, with Brighton’s first selection in the team coming in the shape of Lewis Dunk, who would add his leadership skills to the backline.

Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Mitoma in the middle
In the summer, one of the best midfielders on display, World Cup champion Alexis MacAllister, made the move from Brighton to Liverpool, where he first established his reputation.

Dominik Szoboszlai, a summer acquisition for the Reds, would also be listed on the squad sheet, while Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton would also be a worthy addition.

To make room for the other attacking talent on display, the Japan star would have to move to midfield.

Brighton have been one of the best attacking teams in the Premier League during the early part of the season after bagging an incredible 72 goals throughout the last campaign.

And star striker Evan Ferguson would therefore be called upon to lead the frontline.

Ferguson would likely bang in plenty of goals in a combined team, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on hand to lay on the chances.

Salah will go down as one of the best forwards in Premier League history, while Diaz is starting to find his feet in English football after joining Liverpool at the start of 2022.

And that means there would be no room for Darwin Nunez, who joined the Reds last summer. The striker is currently valued at £56million by Transfermarkt.