Target Acquired: Brighton
Are Seagulls a bird of prey? Well, the ones who wear blue and white and represent Brighton are when they play Liverpool. As we approach the start of the run-in to what could be the greatest title race in many years, where have we heard this before?
READ MORE: The Curious Case of Cody Gakpo by Ciaran Nevin
SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW: YouTube / X (Formerly Twitter) / Instagram / TikTok / Patreon
Yes, we’ve been through and come out the wrong side of the last two epic run-ins. However, this one is different. There’s a third wheel to this one and on a personal level, I believe it could benefit us. Why? Simply because Man City doesn’t have to worry about one team.
The Arsenal Monkey Wrench
Ourselves and the Citizens have Arsenal to contend with. City’s former assistant manager who knows Pep inside out, just happens to be the manager of that third wheel in this race. Many are quick to discount Arsenal in this title race because of their past follies. But to be fair, for 2024 they are contenders until proven not.
The fact City and Arsenal play each other 30 minutes after we finish against Brighton is massive. This brings me to those pesky birds of prey. Brighton & Hove Albion has really enjoyed causing the men who wear the Liverbird on their chest an awful amount of stress over the past two to three years.
Bucking The Brighton Trend
We’ve beaten Brighton once in five games and, boy oh boy do we need to make that two in six. A draw or defeat for us on Sunday would be an absolute disaster. I’ll tell you why.
We constantly hear players and Jurgen Klopp emphasize over the past number of years “one game at a time.” I wholeheartedly agree as each PL game gives you three points. BUT…some league games have more context and land bigger blows to your closest rivals. We have a chance to land a blow on Sunday.
First and foremost we need to get three points on the board. If we do that, the Man City versus Arsenal game’s dynamics completely change. When we win the permutations don’t look bad at all. If City wins, they stay behind us, as we go three points ahead of Arsenal.
If Arsenal is victorious, we pull away from City and have a four-point gap. I’ll fancy us all day long in a run-in against Arsenal.
SHOP THE AMERICAN SCOUSER COLLECTION TODAY
A draw and we’ve pulled further ahead of both and it gives us slight breathing room for one mistake in the run-in. Regardless of the City/Arsenal result, I think both of them have another slip-up during the run-in.
Distractions Abound
If both clubs progress to the Champions League semi-finals and have two grueling matches against each other, we can only benefit. There are a few big ifs in this piece. Nevertheless, this Sunday is as big as it gets.
We really do have the chance to set the tone with three points and then our intentions for the run-in are crystal clear. Brighton has a good manager and good players. They won’t be coming to Anfield to make up the numbers. From the first minute to the last, Liverpool needs to be on it and send a very strong clear message that’s heard in Manchester before a ball is kicked.
THE REDS ARE COMING!
