Albion Boosted by Crucial Injury Returns | Liverpool PREVIEW

Albion have been handed an even further boost in their squad ranks after injury news was confirmed in today’s press conference by head coach, Fabian Hürzeler.

On the back of an impressive 2-0 victory on the road, the emphasis towards the last two games of the season rings around fans’ minds as ‘cup finals’. The old cliche certainly comes true, with both Albion and Brentford on the same points.

Brentford are on an impressive run of form, chasing down the Seagulls after dismantling them 4-2 at the Gtech Community Stadium only three weeks ago.

Who is back for Brighton?

João Pedro returns from his suspension suffered in that game, as his three-match ban has been successfully served. As mentioned in his comeback analysis earlier in the week on TalkSeagulls, the Brazillian has the gene for scoring and turning up in big games. His track record for Albion is very impressive for a player who is largely not associated with scoring goals, particularly from open play. 40 goal contributions in 70 appearances, including 30 goals and 10 assists, a truly remarkable return on investment at £30 million.

On the injury front, Hüzeler confirmed the returns of defensive reinforcements Igor, Joël Veltman, and Lewis Dunk. Veltman in particular has been a massive miss for Albion, with Mats Wieffer, Jack Hinshelwood, and Tariq Lamptey all taking turns covering at right-back over recent months.

Veltman has been known for his ability to remain as Mr Consistent, but equally steal the headlines when faced against a player whom he is forced to raise his game against. Notoriously closing out Wilfried Zaha at the Amex will be one of the most memorable defensive performances from the Dutchman, and it certainly isn’t the only time! The former Ajax leader has become a staple for his leadership role at the club, which has been sorely missed in disappointing moments of bad form.

His return will be favourable against the hot Liverpool side. Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz have had very strong season respectively in the North West.

Kaoru Mitoma is also back available after a concern with his back injury in recent weeks, he made a brief cameo against Wolves last week. The Japanese international loves to play against Liverpool, historically having eye-catching games against the new Real Madrid man Trent Alexander-Arnold. During the 2022/23 season when Albion reached the Europa League, Mitoma had the beating on the dribble against him a whopping five (5) times, half of the 10 completed dribbles against Liverpool.

Based on the reactions towards Trent from his own fans last weekend, Liverpool fans may not even need to humiliate own their player, Mitoma could well do that for them!

Fan favourite and Pokémon master Georginio Rutter also edges closer to a return. Georginio could be available for the final game of the season at Spurs next weekend. He said in the week via The Argus:

“When they said to me first of all it was over, I was sure it was not because I am that positive. Positive brings positive. If they say no, I say yes. I want to play football so we will see.”

The loveable attitude that sums up the bubbly Frenchman, as most fans feel the record-breaking £40 million spend on the Leeds man was something of a modern day ‘bargain’.

Not just off the pitch, but Georginio’s impact has been fantastic on it. Playing primarily as a ’10’, he holds an astute ability to drift across the attack, whilst being surprisingly very good in the defensive department.

The reality that a visit from the crowned Champions is a ‘must-win’ seems crazy, but Albion simply must do that if they want a chance of finishing in a European place at the end of this season. Even with two victories, variables out of their hands like Brentford’s game against Fulham and Crystal Palace’s FA Cup Final will, unfortunately, dictate the fate of the end of this season.