Brighton handed major injury boost as key attackers return before Liverpool

Brighton & Hove Albion have received a much-needed lift ahead of Saturday’s Premier League visit to Anfield, with several injured players returning to first-team training at Lancing. The timing could not be better for Fabian Hürzeler, whose side sit seventh after last weekend’s 1–1 draw with West Ham but have spent much of the season managing an increasingly strained squad.

The biggest headline is the sight of Kaoru Mitoma back in full training. The Japanese winger has been absent for nine matches with what the club described as a “small ankle issue”, but the absence has felt anything but small for Brighton. Mitoma started the first six games of the campaign, including the 3–1 win at Chelsea in September, before being sidelined. His return hands Hürzeler a much-needed injection of pace, unpredictability and forward threat for a fixture that will demand all three.

Mitoma’s absence has coincided with Brighton losing some of their spark in the final third. While Hürzeler has kept the team competitive, the lack of a natural winger capable of beating defenders consistently has been noticeable. Seeing Mitoma back at full intensity offers a major boost ahead of Saturday’s clash with a Liverpool side who have struggled for rhythm this season and currently sit 10th.

The Japan international has made just six appearances this term, contributing a goal and an assist in 510 minutes. His metrics — including 1.2 key passes per match, 80% passing accuracy and over two ball recoveries per game — underline how much Brighton have missed his all-round involvement.

Equally encouraging for Brighton was the sight of James Milner back with the group. The former Liverpool midfielder, now 39, has not been available since the 4–2 defeat at Old Trafford in October. His experience and versatility have been missed, particularly during Brighton’s recent run of tight matches.

Tommy Watson also returned after a month on the sidelines, while long-term absentee Solly March trained with the first team for the first time this season. March’s influence on the left flank has been irreplaceable at times over recent years, and his potential availability for the second half of the campaign could prove significant for Brighton’s push for Europe.

The one concern was the absence of Yasin Ayari, who has missed the last two matches but was not seen in Tuesday’s session.

Liverpool may not be the force they once were — a combination of injuries, inconsistency, and the ongoing Mohamed Salah turmoil has left them sitting unexpectedly in mid-table — but Anfield remains one of the league’s toughest venues. Brighton know they will need balance, energy and pace on the break, all of which Mitoma can provide if deemed fit enough for involvement.

Hürzeler has worked impressively with a disrupted squad, but the return of senior figures adds welcome stability. The blend of Milner’s experience, Mitoma’s dribbling threat, and March’s potential reintegration offers a far more complete set of options than the one available through October and November.

In our view, this wave of positive injury developments arrives at the perfect moment for Brighton. Hürzeler’s squad has shown tactical discipline and resilience, but the lack of wide options has occasionally limited their unpredictability. Mitoma solves that instantly.

Having covered Brighton over the past several seasons, it’s evident that their best football comes when the wide players stretch the pitch, draw defenders out of shape and exploit transitional situations. Mitoma remains their most dangerous conduit for that style.

March’s return also carries significance. Even if he is eased back gradually, his leadership and movement patterns add another layer of reliability on the flanks. Brighton’s season has often been defined by how well they cope with injuries; getting these players back changes the strategic calculus for the months ahead.

Brighton travel to Anfield on Saturday at 3pm for a key test of their European ambitions. With several key players returning, Hürzeler must now decide how many are ready for immediate minutes in a demanding fixture.

👉 Brighton fans — would you start Mitoma immediately at Anfield or ease him back from the bench?