Paul Merson agrees with Alan Shearer on Brighton vs Liverpool prediction

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Liverpool has the chance to strengthen its hold on a top-five spot in the Premier League as it faces Brighton, with Paul Merson and Alan Shearer both predicting the same result

Paul Merson is expecting Liverpool to drop points against Brighton(Image: Stick to Football podcast)

Paul Merson and Alan Shearer are in complete agreement with their predictions for Liverpool’s game against Brighton - but it’s not the result the Reds will want.

Arne Slot’s side heads to the south coast as it has the chance to strengthen its hold on a spot in the Premier League’s top five, which looks as though it could be enough for a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Having seen Manchester United slip up at Bournemouth on Friday, and with Chelsea and Aston Villa playing later this weekend, it’s a huge opportunity for Liverpool to lay down a marker to its rivals.

And having convincingly beaten Galatasaray in midweek, confidence should be high among the Reds’ players, even after injury blows to Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker.

The pundits don’t seem too convinced about their chances against Brighton though. Former Arsenal star Merson is expecting Liverpool to once again drop points, having predicted a 1-1 draw for Sportskeeda.

“Liverpool played well in the Champions League. That's the best I've seen them play in a long time,” Merson said.

Liverpool will be aiming to take confidence from the win over Galatasaray as it faces Brighton(Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

“Don't get me wrong, it's Galatasaray and they are poor away from home in Europe. But Liverpool had to get a job done and they did it, so fair play to them.

“Arne Slot's men must now look to carry that form into the weekend. Honestly, they were atrocious last time out in the Premier League as they were held to a draw by Tottenham at Anfield.

“This is another difficult game for Liverpool. I'm not reading too much into the win over Galatasaray even though they looked fine on the night. I don't think Slot will rest many players for this game because it will be a tight contest and it's the international break after this weekend.”

Merson added: “Even though Liverpool could win this game, I'm going for a draw, which is a bad result for the Reds.”

And Merson isn’t alone in that prediction, with former Newcastle and England striker Shearer also anticipating that Liverpool will only be able to pick up a draw at Brighton.

“Liverpool's league form has gone flat. Their performances are flat in the league,” Shearer told Betfair.

Alan Shearer has made his prediction for Liverpool's game against Brighton(Image: Getty Images)

“You don't know what you're going to get. It all goes on to the international break after this weekend as well, so it's important that you don't sit on a poor result for two weeks.

“It's a difficult one to predict. What Liverpool are going to turn up? Is it the one that you saw in midweek or is it the one that you saw against Spurs?

“It is a huge game for Liverpool. Every game that they play now is huge because you can't spend that amount of money, win the league and then finish outside the Champions League places It's not acceptable and the manager will know what that means.

“I think again I'm going to say a draw between Brighton and Liverpool.”