Liverpool coach identifies the key to winning against Brighton

Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp called on his team to be disciplined in defense as the team prepares to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday in the fourth round of the FA Cup, weeks after a humiliating 3-0 loss in the Premier League against the same opponent. Cup holders Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in the rematch to set up a meeting with Brighton, who scored three goals against Liverpool in two league matches this season.

Earlier this month, Klopp said Liverpool’s league defeat by Brighton was his worst-ever performance during his time at the club, and when asked what could change in Sunday’s game, he told reporters “everything”. The German coach added, “I think we showed that we really want to go forward. We always want to improve and that is what we will do. Brighton is in a really good moment. It is still the worst game I have ever seen for one of the clubs I coached, and thank God we did not play many games after that, we gave Really good performance in moments and periods of matches. In the first half against Chelsea we were very disciplined and didn’t give them many chances. We have to do it again against Brighton of course.”

Since its defeat by Brighton, Liverpool have kept two consecutive clean sheets against Wolverhampton and Chelsea. “Clean sheets are huge for us,” Klopp said. “Everyone is waiting for a great performance, but this takes time and it starts with clean sheets.” Klopp chose to play in the middle with three players, Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Pejsic, against Wolverhampton and Chelsea. And the Liverpool manager said getting the right combination of midfield would be essential against Brighton.

“We have six or seven midfielders at their best, which is the perfect situation, but only three can start. You can’t make mistakes in the starting line-up,” Klopp said.
The German coach said that Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino “will take two weeks, then they can join the training. We will have to see how things go after that.” (Arthur Melo) runs a lot, I think in two or three weeks he will be able to join group training. Fabio Carvalho will be absent.