Can Brighton keep up their ELITE form vs. Liverpool? + Chelsea vs. Spurs preview | ESPN FC
ESPN FC preview: Can Brighton keep their strong form going at Liverpool, plus Chelsea-Spurs and Man United-Bournemouth
The show previews the Premier League, focusing on Brighton's trip to Liverpool as a potentially open, high-scoring game and on Chelsea vs Tottenham and Manchester United vs Bournemouth. The panel is split on Brighton, with concern about Liverpool's defense but also belief that Brighton's attacking approach could leave space for Liverpool; Don Hutchison says Tottenham must prove themselves at Stamford Bridge and that Bournemouth could put pressure on United.
- Liverpool vs Brighton will be a very open, high-scoring game, with Brighton trying to outscore Liverpool rather than sit back — Liverpool have too much firepower but leak goals, and Brighton are in good enough form to punish them.
- He leans toward Brighton and expects them to continue their strong form and score more than Liverpool — Liverpool have been inconsistent this season and are not fully convincing even at home, making Brighton hard to pick against.
- Brighton were just held scoreless away in the Conference League, so their free-flowing attack may not travel — The point cites Brighton's blank in the Czech Republic as a counter to the idea that they will attack freely away from home.
- Brighton have a clear identity and commit numbers forward, which will trouble Liverpool, but that also gives Liverpool transition space and a chance of an upset — Brighton press high and attack in numbers, while Liverpool lack midfield structure defensively but remain dangerous once they get forward.
- Chelsea vs Tottenham is a big game, and Tottenham must prove themselves at Stamford Bridge; beating Coventry does not mean much yet — Spurs need to convince people they can win this kind of away test, rather than treating the Coventry win as proof they are back.
- The pressure game is Manchester United at home to Bournemouth, and Bournemouth could trouble United — Bournemouth beat AC Milan on Thursday and were able to rest and rotate players once the game was won, so they should be fresh.
Shaka Hislop, Ale Moreno and Don Hutchison join Kay Murray on ESPN FC to discuss their expectations for Liverpool vs. Brighton and Chelsea vs. Tottenham in the Premier League. ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC
Transcript
Brighton in third as it stands right now visits Anfield to take on fifth placed Liverpool. And that's where we'll start by talking about what's going to go on in that game. Don Hutcherson is still with us. What are we expecting to see here, Don? >> Goals, goals, goals. It'll be one of the most open Premier League games uh I think at Anfield you'll see for a long, long time because Brighton are just free flowing. They spanked Palace last week by five of the top scorers I think in the Premier League. Herzler's men will not try and park the boss. They'll try and outscore Liverpool. Um and I just I just think when when you get certain games that leap off the pages, think Liverpool will score goals 100%. They've got too much firepower. They'll leak goals because they're not keeping clean sheets and Brighton will punish them. So pick your score line, but loads of goals. >> Do you want to pick your score line? >> Uh I'll pick my score line and see that. Well, we'll get goals. Brighton will score more than the other guys. Um I listen I I I think kind of given some of Liverpool's own stumblings during the course of that season of this season at times they haven't been overly convincing. Brighton have just been a breath of fresh air uh throughout. I expect Brighton to to continue to to to show the good form that we've seen. Continue to play the form play the football that that Herzilla has hasn't playing. Um I right now it's just difficult to pick against Brighton especially when the opponent even at home is as inconsistent as Liverpool has been. >> I I um I don't want to counteract your argument with facts, Shaq, but Brighton was held scoreless today in the conference league. >> Yeah, that's a conference league though. That's a conference league. >> I'm just saying >> that's a conference league. >> You know the free flowing away in the conference league. That's all right. That's all right. That's all right. >> So, so the free flowing stops away >> that Yeah. >> And at the conference >> when you go to Czech Republic, it stops. >> Okay. All right. >> Brian will have no problem in in northwest of England. >> Okay. >> Back in England, they're fine. >> But to your point, and I don't I don't know. I don't know that this is Yeah, that the fact that you knew this was the Czech Republic that we're talking about, that was that was impressive. Sh. >> His geography is on much to remember. >> Well, I don't know. his his geography and his record in geography is uh questionable, but neither here nor there. >> You digress. >> Yeah, I I do digress. And let let me get back to Brighton. And I don't know if it's apples to apples here, but I watch Brighton play and there is a como feel to Brighton. There's a a komo air to Brighton. And and and and perhaps that's where the similarities end. But all I would say is that this is a team that you call them a breath of fresh air. I think it's a team that they're just fun to watch. They're they're a fun to watch play. It has to be fun to be a player for Brighton because of how they approach the game. Uh the high pressure, the the willingness to go and create numbers in opportunities in the attack with numbers, committing those numbers forward, not thinking about, hey, if we if this guy goes forward now, uh let's see what's going on in our back line. Know this guys, they know who they are. They have an identity, and that's all you can ask from a team. And Brighton knows that very well. So they'll attack Liverpool and I imagine that Liverpool given what they have been defensively this year they'll have difficulties hanging on against Brighton. However, because Brighton commits number four forwards then hey maybe there is an opportunity for Liverpool. Maybe there is a chance for them to get in transition to find open spaces. And what is the best part of Liverpool's game? Well, it's not defending the midfield. They have very little structure. They don't really close the bound ball down all that much, but once they get into the attack, there is something there for Liverpool. So maybe there's a chance here for Liverpool to dare I say, pull off the upset against Brighton. I This is This is >> Is that where you're putting your hard earned money when you go to the bookies later? >> Um I do not go to the bookies. >> According to No, but but I >> theory it sounded great. I think I think well they may be the favorites but I I think that may be due to >> they're not your favorite >> they may be due to history they may be due to name but not to performances in this >> going to be an upset. Well, in my mind, I even think that Stevie said that last week was was a a good result and uh and that, you know, it's okay because Brenford and this and that and you know, you're thinking >> that's that's where we are with Liverpool that this this feels like a a turning moment. It may just be that against Brighton. Yet another turning moment for Liverpool. I'm there is an opportunity here. I'm just saying >> we will see more Premier League action coming up this weekend. Let's take a look at some of those fixtures once again. You've got Villa against City. City obviously top of the league, but Villa had a tough start to the season. They found their stride now. Chelsea taking on Spurs is going to be interesting because Spurs are looking to follow up on their first Premier League win. >> They're on a roll. >> Well, they might be about to be. And then of course, as Manchester United against Bournemouth, which of these games are you looking forward to, Don? Uh, I mean Liverpool, Liverpool Brighton, but I've got to say Chelsea Spurs should be a cracker. I I mean that's a game where Tottenham have got to show their metal. It's all right beating Coventry and thinking we're back. They've got to go to Stanford Bridge and try and convince everyone they can go there and win. The pressure game obviously is for Man United at home to Bournemouth and Bournemouth couldn't ask for a better Thursday night than beating AC Milan. Uh rested players, took players off, put players on for minutes because the game was done. So they'll be completely fresh. So yeah, pressure game Old Trafford, goals at Liverpool and are Tottenham going to be back in the bottom three after a loss. >> You know, we don't by the way. He might as well just do the show on his own. You ask him about Chelsea's purse and he brings up Manchester United Burmouth. I mean that >> Yeah. And also touches on a game we just talked about. >> Yeah. Just do your own thing. Do your own thing. Don Stick around Don. We need you for extra time. ESPN is available every single day. The crew will be back tomorrow to look ahead to more of these games, not just the ones that Don wants.