The Champions vs Brighton & Hove Albion Preview
Good day fellow Champions!!! Wednesday at 3:15 pm EST, the record-setting Reds take on Brighton & Hove Albion. At this point of the season, it almost feels like the beginning of next season in a way. The title is done and dusted, and while we still have records to set (e.g. most wins, most points, largest margin of victory, an undefeated home record, etc.), this feels like a match where Jurgen can experiment a little with the lineup to see what he has going forward. The starting XI basically pick themselves now; the question is who he has coming off the bench. Perhaps Klopp will use this run of games to sort through that, which will be fun to see. Back to the upcoming match: the Reds are on 89 points and have the title in their hands. Brighton are on 36 points, and sit at 15th place, currently nine points above relegation. The weather on the Southeast coast will be on the low 60’s with a 20% chance of rain with winds between 15-20 mph.
Injuries
For the Reds the only absolute no-go’s seem to be Lovern and Matip. James Milner looks to be OK to at least make the bench, and Robbo should be good after suffering a “dead leg” after a late clash with Jack Grealish on the weekend.
For BHA, the only two names that appear on the injured list are Jose Izquierdo and Steven Alzate. Both are ruled out.
Previous Form
For the Champions of the Universe (until proven otherwise), their previous five league match results are as follows:
W (2-0 AVL); L (0-4 MCI); W (4-0 CRY); D (0-0 EVE); W (2-1 BOU)
For BHA their previous five league match results are as follows:
W (1-0 NOR); L (0-3 MUN); D (0-0 LEI); W (2-1 ARS); D (0-0 WOL)
Lineup and Prediction
No changes at GK: Alisson has that spot til the day he decides he doesn’t want it. Robbo at LB. Joe and Virg in the CB role. I want to say Neco gets the start here at RB and if things go awry, you can always bring on Trent. The mid three I can see it being a trio of Hendo, Keita, and Ox. Not saying any of the normal middle have done anything to be dropped, but this is the time to experiment. Maybe even Curtis Jones sees a start? Up front, Bobby starts since he didn’t last match. I think Mo does too only because he has a shot at the Golden Boot again. I don’t think Sadio starts. Minimino should get the nod. I was going to say Lallana here, but with Klopp saying he wont risk an injury to Adam, I think his playing time is done, unless injuries make him absolutely needed. Once again, with five subs, Jurgen has the ability to mix and match here.
MOTM
Mo scores a hat trick to put him right in the running for the Golden Boot. Also, keeping with the new tradition of signing a contract and scoring, Young Harvey gets a run out and gets a goal.
5-0 LFC.
On a sidenote… whoever thought it was a funny or a”cheeky” idea to set a flare off on the Dixie Dean statue can fuck right off. It is a place where Everton supporters lay flowers and remember the Blues that have passed on before them. While sports are made up of rivalries and built on the banter back and forth built on those rivalries, there is no place to desecrate a memorial like that. Imagine one day if Everton won the league, and an Everton supporter lit blue flares off at the Hillsborough Memorial. How would we feel? Act like we’ve been here before.
YNWA
Hooch