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Brighton & Hove Albion will benefit from the return of four senior players from injury ahead of Saturday’s trip to Liverpool.
The Seagulls head to Anfield two places above the Premier League champions, and have lost just one of the last six league matches, despite dealing with a plethora of absentees.
But the six-day gap between the draw with West Ham United and the clash at Liverpool has proved fruitful for Fabian Hurzeler, who is able to welcome back several significant figures this weekend. “We have Kaoru Mitoma, James Milner, Tommy Watson and Yasin Ayari back. That’s the positive news,” the German revealed in Friday’s press conference.
“They are definitely options to be in the squad, so we have decisions to make. It will mean some players will be out of the squad, but I think it's a positive thing that we have to make decisions on which players are in the squad and which players are not.
“Kaoru has overcome the pain issue and he trained well this week, so he will be an option.”
Of the quartet, it’s the return of Mitoma that will be most keenly felt. The winger has been among Brighton’s most consistent performers for several years, but has not played since September due to a foot injury.
“We all know he's a key player and can be a match-winner for us, but we already proved this season that we are also a great team without him and we are able to beat big teams without him,” said Hurzeler.
“So now it's about him getting back to his best shape. It's about him fighting for his position. I think we have now several options for this position.
“We played there with Diego Gomez. We played there with Maxim De Cuyper, so now Kaoru is back and that's what we wanted to have, competition for every position.”
Along with Mitoma, Milner’s return from injury will be a welcome boost heading into the busy December fixtures. Saturday will also be an emotional day for the ex-Red as he returns to Anfield for the first time since Diogo Jota’s tragic passing.
Milner shared a close bond with his former team-mate, and even opted to take the no.20 jersey this summer in honor of Liverpool’s eternal no.20.
Meanwhile, Brighton will be without Adam Webster and Solly March this weekend, although Hurzeler confirmed the latter is set to return from his long-term knee injury in the coming weeks.
The Seagulls head coach also revealed Stefanos Tzimas, the only other absentee for Saturday’s game, will not return this season following the ACL injury he suffered in last week’s defeat to Aston Villa.
“He has already started his rehab. He will have surgery soon. We have big trust in the doctors and in our medical department,” said Hurzeler.
“We are quite convinced that he will be back as quickly as possible and in even better shape.”
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