Arsenal will aim to further cut Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League when they travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. A 3-1 New Year's Day win at Brentford moved the Gunners to within six points of Arne Slot's side having played a game more. There is now the chance to apply a little more scoreboard pressure, with Liverpool not in action until they host Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta's men endured a frustrating 1-1 draw against Albion in August when Declan Rice was controversially sent off. They should be largely at full strength for the return fixture. Brighton, meanwhile, have won just twice in 12 games in all competitions and would love to begin 2025 in much brighter fashion.
MORE: All the latest EPL club news | Team-by-team Premier League schedule for 2024/25 Brighton vs. Arsenal lineups, expected starting 11, team news Joao Pedro played the majority of Brighton's 2-2 draw at Aston Villa with a bandaged head after a clash with Boubacar Kamara but did not appear to suffer any ill effects. That came as a particular boost to boss Fabian Hurzeler, who was already without fellow forwards Danny Welbeck and Evan Ferguson .
Both will be assessed before Arsenal's visit, which is set to come too soon for Mats Wieffer . Adam Webster has an outside chance of being involved and Pervis Estupinan should shake off a virus. Ferdi Kadioglu , Jack Hinshelwood and James Milner remain out.
Brighton predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Verbruggen .