Liverpool have a weakness and Brighton's Danny Welbeck and Neal Maupay can exploit it


Against Aston Villa however, Brighton finally looked a different proposition as the encouraging partnership between Neal Maupay and Danny Welbeck helped them to 2-1 triumph at Villa Park.
Welbeck, who celebrated his 30th birthday earlier this week, notched his first goal for the club following his free transfer summer arrival on a one-year deal.
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Hide AdThe former Arsenal and Man United striker has provided Albion with a focal point they have lacked since Glenn Murray's best days and his finish against Villa was sublime.
Maupay played just behind Welbeck and the Frenchman's work-rate, hold-up play and direct running caused numerous problems for Tyrone Mings and the Villa rearguard.
Graham Potter's new and improved strike force will hope to be action once again as Premier League champions Liverpool visit the Amex Stadium tomorrow for a 12.30pm kick-off.
Liverpool have huge injury problems in defence with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk all missing.
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Hide AdDespite this, Jurgen Klopp's depleted team kept a clean sheet in their last Premier League outing during an impressive 3-0 win against Leicester.
But the fact remains Maupay and Welbeck will no doubt prefer their chances against the likes James Milner, Joel Matip and Fabinho compared to van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Gomez.
Van Dijk was hugely impressive against Albion last season and it was his two headed goals that helped Liverpool to a narrow 2-1 win against Brighton at Anfield last November.
Is the absence of the Liverpool skipper an area Welbeck and Maupay can exploit? "Well, Jamie Vardy was up front for Leicester and didn't have too much to work with," said Albion head Graham Potter with caution.
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Hide Ad"It is a team problem you face against Liverpool. Collectively as a team and a unit, they defend so well. they were incredibly impressive (against Leicester).
"And that is without Virgil van Dijk playing. That said, it would be remiss of me not to say that he's one of the best, if not the best centre back in the world.
"Any team will miss somebody like him but it is credit to Jurgen, the squad and the players that they can play in a way that it doesn't look as though they miss him."
The victory at Villa was a huge morale boost for Albion who have nine points from nine Premier League matches.
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Hide AdPotter has been encouraged by the Welbeck-Maupay combination but also has Aaron Connolly, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and new summer Andi Zeqiri pushing for a starting role against Liverpool.
Leo Trossard, who played as a lone striker at Spurs, is also fit again following his adductor problem.
"It’s only their second game together," said Potter of Welbeck and Maupay. "It was only Danny’s second start, his first full 90 and everything will take time but I think they can play together of course.
"We have other players who can contribute with that pairing as well so it’s exciting for us. I think they’ll get better as they understand each other, just like we will as a collective and a team. The more we play together, the better we’ll get.
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Hide AdDanny has settled in from the start. He brings quality on the pitch, in terms of his goals in terms of his link up play in terms of how he defends. Off the pitch he is a really good character, a stable guy. He's been a huge breath of fresh air."
Dutch midfielder Davy Propper missed Aston Villa with stomach bug and is fit once again, while former Liverpool player Adam Lallana faces a late fitness test on his groin.
Tariq Lamptey misses out following his red card at Villa Park.
Liverpool's injury problems are considerable as Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson, Xherdan Shaqiri, Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain join Gomez, Alexander-Arnold and van Dijk, on the list.
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Hide Ad"There’s never a good or bad time to play them," said Potter. "There is just a time to play them and our time is now.
"We have to play well, they have got some problems, but they have also got a lot of solutions. They have got world class players available to them and they will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment from midweek in the Champions League, and build on what I thought was a fantastic performance against Leicester."
Brighton: possible starting lineup: Ryan; White, Dunk, Webster; Veltman, Bissouma, Gross, March; Lallana; Welbeck, Maupay.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Alisson; Milner, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; N Williams, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane; Jota