The seagulls will arrive at Anfield having won all of their last 4 premier league games, having scored 15 and conceded 0 in that time, and being unbeaten in 8 all competitions. They will prove a stern test, then, for Iraola's Liverpool, who themselves are on a run of 3 wins - two in the champions league - since their humbling 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the beginning of October.
The Opposition
Looking at Brighton first; Fabin Hurtzler has guided his team to their best ever start in the Premier League, scoring the fourth-most goals by any team in history in the opening 7 matches and keeping 5 clean sheets along the way. 35 year old Pascal Gross has 7 g/a from 7 games, and Brighton have seen 10 different goal-scorers so far this term, making them an unpredictable and difficult side to defend against. Hurtzler's vision of a team that blends the high-intensity style loved by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Kloop, with a more measured approach often taken by mid-table teams punching above their weight, has really started to come together this season and may mean that Brighton find themselves well in with a chance of Champions League qualification for the first time in their history come season end.
The Home Side
Onto Liverpool now, then. The Reds have been buoyed by a hard-fought victory away at Brentford on Saturday, sandwiched in between a pair of intense high-scoring wins against LASK and Villarreal (6-3 and 4-3 respectively). The underperformance of last season seems to have been shaken off, and Iraola's fluid style is beginning to take shape on the pitch. Especially in Europe - with the possible exception of the first half against Villarreal on Tuesday - Liverpool have looked quick and have pressed intensely, creating opportunities and scoring plenty of goals. Alexander Isak looks like he has re-found the form Liverpool payed so much for, scoring 5 goals in 6 in the league, and Florian Wirtz is developing into the player we all want him to be, scoring after being subbed on at half time in midweek, and setting up Victor Munoz for a crucial goal at the G-Tech.
The Szoboszlai-Wirtz problem
It has failed to escape my notice that Florian Wirtz has had his best 3 games in a Liverpool shirt, during the first 3 games he has played without Dominik Szoboszlai alongside him in midfield. The most obvious reason for this would be that both players operate in the same areas, breaking the lines and recieving the ball in tight areas to try and launch attacking moves. When both play, one has to drop deeper, and with Szoboszlai in the form he is in he would never be expected to do that job. So, with two more traditional holding midfielders in behind him, Wirtz has begun to find the pockets, and has had the freedom to drift into the half-spaces and become an effective attacking threat. This will be the case again today, as Iraola confirmed on Friday that Szoboszlai will not be fit to play against Brighton. It remains to be seen wether Wirtz will again thrive with this newfound freedom; and if he does, it will give Iraola a tough choice to make - drop either of the two, or find a way of playing so that he can extract the best out of what are clearly two world-class talents.
Other Injuries
Jeremie Frimpong hobbled off after just two minutes against Villareal, continuing the right-back-turned-winger's unenviable injury record. That would surely mean, then, that Ronald Aurajo will once again line up at right back; something I'm thrilled with, as his performances in the position so far have been defensively up to scratch. This will be a big test for him, to prove that he can be relied upon against a Brighton attack that is, in a word, lethal.
Victor Munoz, too, is doubtful for this game. So after a collection of electric performances from the young Spaniard, the onus will be on the returning Cody Gakpo and new star man Bradley Barcola to provide the width that may help to stretch Brighton into conceding.
The Conclusion
They key to Liverpool coming away with a win in this game will be persistence. Not letting Brighton control the game, limiting their chances, and making sure to be clinical with any chances they create themselves.
My score prediction: 3-3