Mark Lawrenson makes bold prediction as Liverpool travel to Brighton

Brighton performed well last time out in the Premier League as they recorded an entertaining and slightly controversial 2-1 victory at Aston Villa last Saturday.

It was Albion's second win of the season and moved Graham Potter's men to nine points from their first nine matches.

Strikers Danny Welbeck and Neal Maupay were particularly impressive at Villa Park and they will hope to find a few gaps in the Liverpool defence who are missing the talents of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been complaining about injuries and broadcast schedules but the Reds were excellent last time out in the Premier League as they comfortably beat Leicester 3-0.

A much changed Liverpool lost 2-0 to Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek but Lawro fully expects the Reds to hit back in style against Brighton.

"Brighton were really impressive in their win at Aston Villa last weekend," wrote Lawro in his weekly BBC predictions column. "The game could have been done and dusted by half-time.

"The Seagulls will be without their best player at the moment, Tariq Lamptey, who is suspended after his red card right at the end of that game, but I did not really fancy them much in this one anyway.

"If Brighton try to play their way out from the back again, like they did in July when Liverpool nicked the ball off them and scored a couple of early goals, they will be in trouble.

"This will be a hard enough test for Graham Potter's side anyway.

"Liverpool have played Brighton six times in the Premier League in the past three seasons, and won every time.

"I know the Reds still have lots of injuries but I think this will be win number seven.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

This week Lawro was up against Maximo Park singer and Middlesbrough fan Paul Smith. "Both of these teams like to play good football," wrote Paul. "But one of them is better at it. Liverpool might leak a goal though. 1-3."