As Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion meet twice this week, including Wednesday night's Carabao Cup clash at The Amex, it is a perfect moment to look back at some of the most exciting games between these two clubs.
Historically, Liverpool have been the far stronger side, with the two not meeting between 1991 and 2011 due to Brighton's struggles in that period.
However, Brighton’s steady rise in recent years has turned this fixture into a thrilling contest that is often full of surprises.
Here is a look at five memorable clashes between Liverpool and Brighton that have contributed to the growing excitement surrounding this match-up.
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Liverpool 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion, 20 February 1983
In 1983, Liverpool were a powerhouse in English football, dominating the league and competing fiercely in Europe.
However, the FA Cup would prove its unpredictable self as mid-table Brighton, then in the First Division, took on the Merseyside giants in a dramatic fifth-round match at Anfield.
The game saw Brighton pull off a historic 2-1 victory, sending shockwaves through English football and marking one of their most impactful victories.
Jimmy Melia's Albion side went ahead through a well-worked goal by Gerry Ryan, catching Liverpool’s defence off guard.
Liverpool fought back, equalising through Craig Johnston, but Brighton held firm under relentless pressure.
In the dying minutes, Brighton legend Jimmy Case, a former Liverpool player, scored the winner with a stunning long-range shot, eliminating his former club.
The Seagulls went on to reach the FA Cup Final that year, their best performance in the competition to date and a pivotal moment in the club's history.
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Liverpool 6-1 Brighton & Hove Albion, 19 February 2012
Fast forward to 2012, and Liverpool and Brighton clashed again in the FA Cup, this time in the Fifth Round at Anfield.
Liverpool, managed by Kenny Dalglish, were heavy favourites and lived up to expectations with a comprehensive 6-1 victory.
This match is often remembered for its bizarre own-goal fest, with Brighton conceding three own goals.
Martin Škrtel opened the scoring for Liverpool in front of the 5,000 travelling Albion fans. This early goal set the tone for a dominant display.
Brighton equalised with a stunning free-kick goal from Kazenga LuaLua in the 17th minute. The powerhouse winger smashed the ball around the wall and into the bottom left hand corner in front of the Kop.
However, despite early promise, the Seagulls’ luck turned sour when Lewis Dunk and a Liam Bridcutt brace of own goals added to Liverpool’s tally.
Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez added to the Albion's self-sabotage, with Suárez missing a penalty but making up for it with a goal later.
Despite the heavy loss, the result was a memorable one for many Brighton fans.
In the inaugural season at their new stadium and with a return to the second tier of football, the opportunity to play a team like Liverpool gave the club another sense of moving upward.
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Brighton & Hove Albion 1-5 Liverpool, 2 December 2017
Six seasons after their last meeting, Albion were promoted to England's top division, where the teams faced off again in the 2017/18 Premier League season.
Sadly for Brighton, this result felt awfully similar to the FA Cup fixture six seasons earlier. The game saw Liverpool’s front line at its lethal best as they dismantled Brighton at The Amex in a 5-1 victory.
Brighton were newly promoted to the Premier League, and while they had shown flashes of resilience, they found Liverpool’s attack too much to handle on this day.
Emre Can opened the scoring with a powerful header, and Roberto Firmino quickly added two more to give Liverpool a 3-0 lead.
Brighton pulled one back through Glenn Murray, who converted a penalty. However, Player of the Match Philippe Coutinho then took over, scoring a sublime free-kick and setting up an own goal from Lewis Dunk.
The centre-back found himself repeating history, scoring yet another own goal against the Reds, eerily reminiscent of his luck against them in 2012.
This was one of the games that solidified Liverpool’s fearsome reputation under Jürgen Klopp, showcasing their attacking prowess and relentless pressing.
It came as a stark wake-up call for Albion boss Chris Hughton, who claimed that Liverpool gave his side a "harsh lesson" in the Premier League's quality.
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Liverpool 3-3 Brighton & Hove Albion, 1 October 2022
In October 2022, Brighton and Liverpool delivered a thrilling six-goal match at Anfield, with Brighton under new manager Roberto De Zerbi.
De Zerbi’s attacking philosophy was on full display, as his side took an early 2-0 lead to stun the Anfield crowd.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for Brighton, netting twice in the first 20 minutes as Liverpool’s defence looked unusually vulnerable.
Liverpool fought back through goals from Roberto Firmino, who equalised with two strikes of his own, and an own goal from Adam Webster, giving Liverpool a 3-2 lead.
Own goals against Liverpool seem to be a bit of a trend for the Seagulls.
However, Trossard completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute, securing a memorable 3-3 draw for Brighton.
This match marked the beginning of De Zerbi’s Brighton becoming a serious attacking threat, and a side that would continue to cause upsets against England's top teams.
Trossard’s hat-trick was one of the standout individual performances of the season.
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Brighton 3-0 Liverpool, 14 January 2023
The following season saw Brighton again cause Liverpool significant trouble, this time securing a 3-0 victory at The Amex in January 2023.
This result highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs at the time.
Liverpool, usually known for their intensity and defensive stability, struggled to contain Brighton’s fluid play, as the Seagulls, still under Roberto De Zerbi, took full control of the match.
Solly March scored twice in quick succession early in the second half, capitalising on Liverpool’s defensive disorganisation.
Danny Welbeck then added a third with a delicate finish, sealing a famous victory for Brighton. This was Liverpool’s heaviest league defeat in recent years, and it underscored the team’s struggles in the 2022/23 season.
For Brighton, the game demonstrated their maturity and growth as a top-flight side, with De Zerbi’s tactics winning praise for their effectiveness against Klopp’s team.
After the victory, Solly March, named Player of the Match, expressed Albion's "dream of European qualification". They achieved just that by the end of the season, with decisive results like this one propelling them to a sixth-place finish.
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A look ahead
This season, both Liverpool and Brighton have come out strong under their new managers, Arne Slot and Fabian Hürzeler respectively.
Slot has quickly led Liverpool to a near-perfect start, with 10 wins in their first 12 games, dominating both domestically and in Europe.
Liverpool have been clinical on the road and highly consistent across competitions, maintaining a strong defensive record while their attacking talent regularly takes early control of matches.
Brighton, meanwhile, has thrived under Hürzeler, sitting within the Premier League’s top six and making a strong case for European qualification again this season.
Brighton's home form has been robust, marked by competitive draws and key victories over teams like Manchester United and Tottenham, making them formidable at The Amex.
As the two sides meet twice this week - first in the Carabao Cup at Brighton’s home ground and then in the Premier League at Anfield - both games promise to be thrilling showdowns.
Brighton’s unpredictable style, combined with Liverpool's attacking efficiency and a plethora of key injuries for both teams, sets the stage for competitive, high-stakes encounters that highlight how much this match-up has evolved in recent years.
