Liverpool have made four changes to their starting XI for this afternoon’s Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield, with Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Milos Kerkez all returning.
Andoni Iraola has restored several of his first-choice players following Tuesday’s 4-3 Champions League victory over Villarreal, as Liverpool look to extend their winning run to four matches in all competitions.
Ronald Araujo continues at right-back despite Liverpool’s defensive injury problems, while Ryan Gravenberch partners Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
The match kicks off at 2pm GMT and will go ahead as scheduled despite concerns about high winds on Merseyside.
Liverpool’s confirmed starting XI
Liverpool: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak.
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Tsimikas, Nyoni, McConnell, Endo, Koumas, Chiesa, Ngumoha.
Four changes as Iraola strengthens his attack
The return of Isak, Wirtz and Barcola gives Liverpool a familiar attacking combination after Iraola managed their minutes during the midweek victory over Villarreal.
Isak leads the line, with Wirtz operating behind him and Barcola and Cody Gakpo providing support from wide positions.
Gakpo retains his starting place, while Rio Ngumoha returns to the bench following his impressive performance against Villarreal.
Kerkez replaces Kostas Tsimikas at left-back, with Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet and captain Virgil van Dijk completing the defence in front of Alisson.
Gravenberch returns to Premier League action after serving a one-match suspension, joining Mac Allister in the centre of midfield.
Trey Nyoni, who has impressed when called upon in recent matches, is among the substitutes.
Injury problems continue for Liverpool
Liverpool remain without Dominik Szoboszlai, who suffered a hamstring injury against Brentford, while Victor Munoz is also missing after his recent knee problem.
Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain unavailable, leaving Iraola with limited options in several positions.
There is attacking depth on the bench, however, with Ngumoha, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas available should Liverpool need a change during the second half.
Brighton present a difficult test
Brighton arrive at Anfield third in the Premier League, four points ahead of Liverpool after seven matches.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side have made an impressive start to the campaign, scoring 23 league goals and conceding only five. They also recorded a convincing 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace in their previous Premier League outing.
Brighton’s attacking form will test a Liverpool defence that has struggled for consistency this season, particularly with the Reds short of specialist right-back options.
The visitors have their own injury concerns, with Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson and Stefanos Tzimas among those unavailable.
What Liverpool need to get right
Liverpool’s recent results suggest confidence is returning, but their home league record remains a concern. The Reds have yet to win a Premier League match at Anfield this season.
With Gravenberch and Mac Allister together in midfield, Liverpool should have greater balance behind an attack that looks considerably stronger than the one which started against Villarreal.
The challenge will be controlling the spaces Brighton can exploit when possession is lost. The visitors have shown they can punish teams quickly and are unlikely to approach Anfield simply looking for a draw.
For Liverpool, the return of their leading attacking players offers encouragement. Turning that quality into a convincing home league performance is now the priority.
Liverpool v Brighton: Match details
- Competition: Premier League
- Date: Sunday, 25 October 2026
- Kick-off: 2pm GMT
- Venue: Anfield
- Referee: Sam Barrott
- VAR: Michael Oliver
- UK television: Sky Sports Premier League
