Brighton news

As we reach Christmas and approach the midway point in the Premier League season, the time has come to reflect on the first half of a campaign that has delivered drama and unexpected twists in abundance. It's also the opportune moment to assess those players who completed a transfer to, or within, the English top-flight back in the summer, with a decent sample size of games now under their belts.

Pure excitement has been the theme of this Premier League season. Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are locked in a three-way title race while practically the rest of the division is competing for a European place. Indeed, the table is so crowded it feels more like the Championship than the top-flight, with back-to-back wins being all it takes to propel teams from 15th to the top five.

The Africa Cup of Nations is back this December and January, with the continent's very best set to battle it out in Morocco as they aim to take Cote d'Ivoire's crown after their unlikely victory at the start of 2024. AFCON's prestige, drama and quality remains up there with the Euros and Copa America, but the downside for European clubs is it's another tournament which falls slap bang in the middle of their seasonal calendar, meaning most teams will be losing players for up to a month.

Curtis Jones has shed light on how the Liverpool squad feel about Mohamed Salah following last week's outburst at Elland Road. Salah dropped a bombshell in his post-match interview following the 3-3 draw and claimed he had been "thrown under the bus", having started from the bench for the third successive match. The Egypt international is now being linked with a January exit from Anfield.

Carlos Baleba has addressed talk that speculation over a summer move to Manchester United has impacted his form. The Cameroon international was heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford over the summer as Ruben Amorim pushed to strengthen his side in the middle of the park. However, United failed to agree a fee with Brighton, and the transfer ultimately failed to materialise.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has revealed that he wants Mohamed Salah to stay at the club despite speculation linking the Egyptian away from Anfield. Salah claimed he'd been "thrown under the bus" by the club following last week's 3-3 draw at Leeds United, during which the forward was an unused substitute. The 33-year-old was then dropped from the squad for the midweek win at Inter Milan.

Arne Slot says there is "no issue to resolve" with Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward returned to the fold in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Brighton. The Egypt star was left out of Tuesday’s Champions League win over Inter Milan after an explosive interview in which he accused the club of "throwing me under the bus" and saying his relationship with the Reds boss had broken down.

James Milner has paid an emotional tribute to the late Diogo Jota, saying it was a "special moment" to make his return to Liverpool while wearing his former team-mate’s number 20. The Reds legend received a warm ovation from the Anfield crowd as he came off the bench for current side Brighton in Saturday’s Premier League fixture between the two teams.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has hailed new signing Hugo Ekitike after he bagged another brace to secure a 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday. The French striker now has 10 goals in all competitions for the Reds so far in 2025-26 and is starting to prove his worth following a big-money move from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot shared his thoughts on talisman Mohamed Salah after Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton at Anfield. Slot started with Salah on the bench but turned to the forward in the first half after defender Joe Gomez was forced off injured. Salah went on to pick up an assist in the game in what was his final appearance for the Reds before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.

Liverpool star Florian Wirtz was felled by a high tackle from Brighton's Diego Gomez at the end of the first half of Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win for the Reds at Anfield. The challenge angered many Liverpool fans, who felt Gomez should have seen red, but the Premier League have confirmed why only a booking was handed out to the Paraguay international.

Hugo Ekitike scored twice as Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday. Mohamed Salah also made an impact after coming off the bench to replace the injured Joe Gomez. The Egypt international, who is facing an uncertain future at the club, bagged an assist for Arne Slot's side in what was his final game for the club before he joins up with his country's AFCON squad.

Mohamed Salah was named on the bench yet again by Liverpool manager Arne Slot for Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at Anfield. The Egypt international has been recalled to the squad, after being left out against Inter in the Champions League in midweek following his critical comments, and was needed in the first half after Joe Gomez picked up an injury.