Brighton will welcome key defender Lewis Dunk back from injury for Monday’s game against Liverpool. Dunk missed Brighton’s game against Wolves last weekend due to a hamstring problem but has been passed fit to return for Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
Joao Pedro, the Brighton striker who has been linked with a possible summer move to Liverpool, is also set to return after serving a three-match suspension, while Kaoru Mitoma is in contention to feature after a four-game lay-off caused by heel and back issues.
In another boost for the Seagulls, Joel Veltman is also available for selection. Liverpool, meanwhile, could have a full roster to choose from, with Joe Gomez in contention to return after several months on the sidelines.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was positive as he spoke in his pre-game press conference. He said: “Lewis is back in the squad. Joel will be back in the squad. It’s all very positive news. Kaoru had some minor issues, so hopefully he will be a possibility for us in the squad. Overall, it’s very positive and we have more options.”
Despite all that good news, Brighton remains without four other players, with James Milner, Georginio Rutter, Solly March and Ferdi Kadioglu all still sidelined.
“Georginio Rutter is also very close, so hopefully he’ll be back with the team next week [ahead of the final game of the season],” Hurzeler added. “There’s a small chance, like I said from the beginning, that he can be an option for the end of the season, for the last game.
“James (Milner) is doing rehab on the pitch, so he’s getting closer. I’m not sure if we will see him this season, but it’s a nice process what he’s going through now.”
While Brighton is chasing an eighth-placed finish that could secure a place in the Europa Conference League next season, Liverpool is merely playing out its remaining games of the campaign after wrapping up the league title in April.
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was asked in a press conference on Friday if it was difficult to motivate his players for the final weeks of the season, considering the team effectively has nothing to play for.
“The honest answer is yes, it’s clear to everyone,” Slot said. “If we were still competing for the Premier League, there would have been a few days off as well, but we would have gone somewhere else.
“I don’t think we’re the only team that gives players a few extra days off when you play on Sunday and then don’t play again until the following Monday. The honest answer is there is a difference [in motivation] but if I look at the way we played against Arsenal, I saw a team that wanted to compete against Arsenal from the first second until the last.
“Even when we were having some problems in the second half, we were able to come back into the game so it shows you the mentality is very good
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve won the league — if you play Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton, these are difficult games to play. That’s why I was also so happy that we were already enough points clear to clinch the title against Tottenham.”
