Liam Garcia
Dailysports's expert
On May 19, 2025, the Amex Stadium in Brighton will host a Matchweek 37 clash of the English Premier League between Brighton and Liverpool. For this game, the focus is on the individual performances of key players.
Brighton
As has happened more than once before, Brighton started the season with flair, prompting talk of a possible European push. However, the Seagulls struggled to maintain consistency over the long haul—primarily due to injuries to key players, resulting in a significant dip in form. With two rounds left, the team’s ceiling appears to be 8th place in the table.
This position could theoretically grant a spot in the Conference League, but only if Manchester City win the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. Otherwise, if the Eagles prevail, they—despite currently sitting 12th—would snatch a European ticket, but to the Europa League instead.
Brighton are now level on 55 points with Brentford but trail on goal difference: +3 compared to the Bees’ +10. Bournemouth are two points behind, boasting an even better difference of +12. This sets up a tense fight for eighth place, likely to unfold among these three teams. On paper, Brentford have the most favorable run-in. But as ever in the Premier League, predictability is a myth: any side can spring a surprise.
Brighton have been solid in their last three matches—two wins and a draw. The team has hit form at the business end of the season and will look to make the most of the remaining fixtures. Expect them to be fully motivated against Liverpool—Brighton have shown time and again they can challenge teams of any caliber. The only thing that could affect their motivation is a potential Crystal Palace win in the FA Cup final: in that case, eighth would not secure European football, and the end of Brighton’s season would be about pride alone.
Liverpool
Arne Slot’s men have all but wrapped up their season: the players are enjoying a well-deserved break, basking in their title triumph. Some of the squad have only just returned from a holiday in Dubai, while the manager himself spent a mini-vacation on the beaches of Ibiza. That leaves Liverpool’s motivation for the final stretch up in the air.
After a resounding 5-1 home win over Tottenham that sealed the title early, Liverpool put in two lackluster displays—a 3-1 away defeat to Chelsea and a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield. Clearly, it’s tough to find motivation when all the major objectives are already ticked off. But there is one player for whom the remainder of the season is crucial—Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian is locked in a fierce battle for the Golden Boot—the prestigious award for Europe’s top scorer. There are three main contenders left: Kylian Mbappé, Viktor Gyökeres, and Salah himself. Both the Frenchman and the Egyptian are on 56 points, breathing down the neck of the Swedish striker, who still leads the race. However, the Sporting frontman has just one game left, while Mbappé and Salah each have two matches in hand.
The decisive factor in this race may be the points-per-goal coefficient, which depends on the league’s ranking. Each goal by Salah and Mbappé is worth two points, while Gyökeres gets just 1.5. That gives the Liverpool and Real Madrid stars a strategic edge coming into the final stretch.
Probable lineups
- Brighton: Verbruggen, Viffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Estupiñán, Baleba, Ayari, Lamptey, João Pedro, Minteh, Welbeck.
- Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Díaz
Match facts and H2H
- Both teams have scored in each of Brighton’s last three matches.
- The reverse fixture between Liverpool and Brighton saw the Reds win 2-1.
- In the last seven head-to-head encounters, the “both teams to score” bet has landed six times, and all seven saw over 2.5 goals.
- Liverpool, regardless of the final matchday result, will finish as the best team in the league both at home and away in terms of points collected.
- Arne Slot’s side also lead the Premier League in away goals scored—42 in total.
Prediction
With Liverpool’s overall intensity dropping, Mohamed Salah remains the only consistently motivated player as he chases the Golden Boot. The Egyptian’s individual quest could be the deciding factor. Backing him to score at 2.1 odds looks justified, especially given Brighton’s shaky defense.
