‘Potter Will Use The Best Squad In Brighton’s History‘
- Leicester City face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday
- The Seagulls have defeated two Championship teams to reach the fourth round
- Andy Naylor of The Athletic previewed the fixture and predicted Brighton’s approach
- He believes Graham Potter will make changes but still field a strong side at King Power Stadium
The Seagulls will arrive at King Power Stadium for the Carabao Cup Fourth Round tie looking to recover from Saturday’s defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City – a rare blemish during an excellent opening to the campaign, leaving them fifth before Saturday’s trip to Liverpool.
Although it was Brendan Rodgers’ men that came out on top when the two teams last faced off in a cup competition on Filbert Way – February’s Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round clash – it was Brighton who triumphed earlier in the league calendar.
Goals from Neal Maupay and Danny Welbeck secured maximum points for the home side last month, despite Jamie Vardy’s second-half strike.
“One of the intriguing things is what the team looks like, because this game falls between two very difficult assignments,” Naylor told LCFC TV earlier this week, assessing the visiting team's potential starting XI.
“They lost 4-1 at home to Manchester City and they’ve got Liverpool away in the league this Saturday. We saw against Man City, at half-time, they were 3-0 down and you were thinking ‘this could be any score’. Then there’s the implications of the damage that does to confidence and belief going forward.
“I would expect there not to be that much between the two teams. We saw in the league game at AMEX Stadium in the league a few weeks ago, which finished 2-1, it ended up being a tight affair and Brighton were hanging on a bit in the last 20 minutes in that game.
“I would not expect it to be straightforward, certainly not from Brighton’s perspective and even not for Leicester playing at home. I think we’ll have a close tie.”
Jakub Moder and Andi Zeqiri found the net in Brighton’s second-round success away to Cardiff City, while it was a first half double from Republic of Ireland international Aaron Connolly that sealed progression from round three.
The latter duo have made just two Premier League appearances between them during 2021/22 and Naylor is expecting further rotation to the line-up for this midweek clash.
He explained: “We’ve seen in the previous two rounds against Championship sides, Cardiff and then Swansea, it was very much young players and a young side that was used, a completely different XI.
“I think that might change for this game. There are a few players coming back from injury that need minutes. It’s a step up in opposition. It’s also the last 16 and if you get through this time, you are suddenly into the quarter-finals.
“We’ll find Graham using Brighton’s strongest ever squad and still fielding a strong team, even though he probably won’t include most of the players that played against Man City.
“I don’t think they’ve ever had the squad that they’ve got now. If you look in its entirety, it’s two XIs and the second XI is actually pretty good. It’s full of internationals. Brighton have never really been in that situation before.
“They’ve not had that strength in depth, so when players have been rested for the cup competitions, they haven’t been able to get the results that they might be capable of now with the squad they’ve got.”
With Adam Webster and Tariq Lamptey on the treatment table, the Seagulls have missed several of their defensive options in recent weeks, though both have made progress as they look to return to full fitness - and could be involved on Wednesday.
In Webster’s absence, Shane Duffy has consistently impressed as part of the backline that has conceded just nine goals in their opening nine Premier League fixtures of the season – only the top three have conceded fewer.
“You can never predict what Graham’s teams are going to be,” the journalist admitted. "There is usually a surprise or two, but it seems like a good opportunity for Adam Webster to come back into the starting line up.
"He’s Brighton's record signing, a central defender who has been missing since mid-September when he picked up a hamstring injury at Brentford. He was back in the squad as an unused substitute against Man City on Saturday, so I would anticipate that he’ll come in.
“Shane Duffy has been a regular in the centre of defence this season but was left out against Man City, so there’s a chance he might play.
“We’ve seen Tariq Lamptey on his way back from 10 months out with hamstring problems. They are being careful with him. He played the first half of the last round against Swansea; he’s come on as a substitute in the second half of the last two Premier League games. There’s a possibility that he could start.
“That’s the extra strength and extra options that Graham’s got now. I think he’ll treat this game in the manner expected. I don’t see him fielding his strongest team against Leicester but he’ll make use of what is now the best squad in Brighton’s history.”