It’s been a tough few weeks for The Reds, but Liverpool must fight back against Brighton…
It’s now or never for The Kopites as the Premier League season is coming to an end. Liverpool are currently sitting third in the table with 72 points while Chelsea and Tottenham are chasing them with a game in hand. A top-four finish is guaranteed for Liverpool with a win against Brighton, and they are going to battle hard for it this weekend.
The match against Real Madrid is crucial, but there are almost two weeks to that so Klopp’s focus has shifted to overcoming Brighton at Anfield. Liverpool’s front-three of Salah, Firmino, and Mane should be on display as this will be a do-or-die battle for The Reds. The team is looking hopeful, and fans will be hoping for a staggering display on Saturday – doubling as a message to Los Blancos before the upcoming Champions League final in Kiev.
2017/18: Salah, Mané & Firmino = 29 goals ⚽️
2013/14: Bale, Benzema & Cristiano = 28 goals ⚽️
Liverpool's front three are officially the most prolific trio in Champions League history. pic.twitter.com/yEGwVFRXS6
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 2, 2018
A wave of optimism is permeating through Liverpool for the final match-day of the Premier League as they have a massive seven day rest to prepare for it. There is some bad news in the camp too as Joe Gomez adds to the club’s extensive injury list, which currently includes Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Joel Matip. Mo Salah has been phenomenal for Liverpool this season and has already won the PFA Player of the Year award, with the Egyptian now chasing Ian Rush’s record as mentioned in the previous article.
Salah, Van Dijk, and Firmino have been revelations for The Reds this season, but their performances against the Premier League’s top clubs have been sub-par. Last year, the club managed to pick up 20 points in 10 matches against the top five teams, remaining unbeaten in the process. This season, they have only gathered 10 points against the elite clubs, which is why they’re battling for a top-four finish instead of fighting for second.
In terms of Premier League and Champions League performances, this has still been Liverpool’s best season in recent memory. Liverpool are now favourites with a superior goal difference to the other top-four contenders. This is a big morale boost for the players, who will be pumped to seal qualification on the final day of the season. Klopp must forget about the Champions League final until a positive result is secured against Brighton as a win, and a top-four finish, will be a huge sigh of relief for players and fans alike. Liverpool will then head to Kiev with clearer heads, which could prove crucial for them.