'It's a little bit of a statement if Liverpool beat Brighton!' - Steve McManaman | ESPN FC

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Liverpool vs Brighton preview: McManaman says a win would be a statement as guests debate squad depth and Brighton's ceiling

The show previews Liverpool vs Brighton, focusing on Liverpool's squad depth and home form and on Brighton's quick transitions and ceiling. The overall view is that a Liverpool win would be meaningful but their squad looks thin, while Brighton can cause problems and even push for the top five if they find consistency.

On ESPN FC, Dan Thomas, Luis Garcia, Steve McManaman and Craig Burley preview the upcoming matchup between Liverpool and Brighton on Sunday. ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC

Transcript

Liverpool against Brighton this weekend. Brighton have been so good to watch. I think we can all agree with that in the Premier League. Uh Liverpool have stuttered just the one defeat so far this season, but it hasn't blown your socks off the way that Brighton have. >> This is a fascinating contest, isn't it, Luise? Yeah, it have to be interesting and and and definitely another good test for for Liverpool that is going to test them once again if it's going to be good enough to be at the top of the table because definitely is something that we thought they might happen. will bring something different. But we still finding gaps and and and moments and poor consistency and and and and exposure in the fence once again after last year and you got a Brighton team that he worked very well that is transitions very quick and and it can hurt you very much. So, it's a fantastic tag to see even though that maybe we can we we could consider Brighton is not one of the top toughest teams in in in Europe, >> but it's going to put you on the in a good position and and and show you that if you don't do well in the beginning of the game and you're going to struggle. >> Yeah, I think it's a great game for Liverpool. If Liverpool beat them, >> it's it's a little bit of a statement because Liverpool have struggled at home in the Premier League. I've said since the beginning of the season, I think Liverpool are light in the squad. I don't think the squad is deep enough. A bit like Man United, but they're >> I think they're a work in progress. I really do, which is funny to say considering they won the league two years ago. Um, but with the injury worries that they had last year, I wanted them to bring in three or four more players to bolster that squad. Um, so we'll wait and see how it goes. I don't I haven't got huge thoughts about Liverpool this year. I think if they finish in the top five, that will be a success. I honestly do because of the squad that they've got this year and the injury worries and the long-term injury worries they have. But I think it's a great game to have Brighton at home. They normally play well against Brighton because Brighton are quite expansive the way they play. They want to play themselves. So it's normally a really decent game to watch. >> Um but I think if Liverpool win again after Brenford and then after the European game, I think it'd be great for them, they'll jump back into the top three or four and you know that'll that'll cement them there for a while. >> Who would you prefer to be playing for at the moment, Liverpool or Brighton? >> Me personally. >> Stupid question. I love it, don't you? >> I'm going to have my entertainment somewhere. It's like they let him out the house like twice a year. >> WHAT'S IT LIKE TO be in Spain? >> Spain. I'M IN SPAIN. >> WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY FOR? >> I'm in Spain. >> It's not inconceivable. >> Anyway, yes. Go on. >> It's not inconceivable that Brighton go there and outplay Liverpool. No, but look what they did to Arsenal. Obviously, that's where they really That was at Brighton though, wasn't it? That was at home. >> All right, Liverpool TV, calm down. not necessarily beat them. >> Apples and oranges down. Apples and oranges. They're at home. >> If Liverpool defend the way, >> what a fortress Arsenal Liverpool this season. >> Well, Brighton did beat Palace. >> Yes, I did. >> At home. >> At home. >> I I I don't see a reason why Brighton, I mean, apart from consistency, couldn't couldn't finish in the top five because of the way the others are. Liverpool are jogging along and United are going to be miles away. You would imagine there, you know, it's a great opportunity for them and as much as this would be a uh maybe a good marker for for Ariel, it' be another marker for Fabian Hutzler who as Ma said earlier has been linked with the Man United job. Why the hell would you want to go into that at the moment from where he is? They they are arguably you know the in you know Man City set apart arguably the inform side in the Premier League in terms of the entertainment and the results and they got the Anfield full of confidence. So >> yeah there is there is there is spaces aren't there for somebody cuz Man United >> Liverpool are struggling to a certain extent. Tottenham are near the so-called bottom but they will they will and Aston Villa. So there's there's areas there's four, five, and six places that could get into the Champions League which open for teams that play really nice football. >> Everton are up there. I think Everton are fifth or sixth. >> Yeah, they lost last week to Chelsea, but they were fifth. Yeah, they >> No, they were fifth and they are one of the thinnest. >> No, but my point is David Moyes was apoplelectic in the summer about how thin his squad is. They're not a particularly big squad. They're not a particularly good side. And yet there they are. There they were sitting in fifth. Thanks Mark. It was smarty pants over here. Every time somebody doesn't get ends absolutely spot on, Mr. Perfect. >> But there's there's places for somebody to finish third last season. That tells you where the standard is. So the Premier League gets the ribbon amarim effect, wasn't it? They were so happy to get him out the players that Michael Car went in and everybody was going this is great. Everybody's a little happy again. You get the results and then reality kicks in. When you really look at the squad and think we've got 38 games, we've got the Champions League, Carib Cup, and FA Cup and and this is the squad of players. That's the reality. >> What's going to happen tomorrow, Louise? >> Again, playing at home coming from uh to victories. I think that they should they should when you play at home, you know that there's always going to be an extra and I think he's on the build getting confidence. Let's see if they can find the consistency, but I think the LIO can get the three points. >> It's Sunday. Good. >> It's not tomorrow. >> Yeah, I was speaking I was speaking to I was speaking >> because this is not live. This is going to show tomorrow. >> This is going to be shown three weeks on Tuesday. >> I was actually speaking to our Australian viewers fine >> because Brighton played not in the Champions League. It means the games kicked till Sunday. So, just to let you know, >> right, that's I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Sorry. Because Brighton didn't play in the Champions League. >> Yes, they played in the in the European football on Thursday. More of this fascinating factual information to come tomorrow as we'll be looking ahead more to Liverpool against Brighton, but more importantly, Real Madrid against Barcelona.