Fabinho at centre-back for Liverpool in Brighton clash

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has selected something of a make-shift defence ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton.

With Dejan Lovren (£4.9m) ruled out, midfielder Fabinho (£5.5m) has been named at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m), having played there against Wolves in the FA Cup on Monday night.

While that may not instil confidence in a Liverpool clean sheet at the Amex Stadium today, there is encouragement on the bench as Joel Matip (£4.9m), missing since Gameweek 16, is named among the substitutes.

Brighton look to have gone for a slight change of shape, switching to a 4-2-3-1, with Glenn Murray (£6.3m) leading the line and still in search of his first home goal since Gameweek 15.

Recently discovered budget midfielder Dwight McNeil (£4.4m) continues to hold down a place on the left flank of Burnley’s attack, while Ashley Barnes (£5.6m) strings together eighth consecutive start for the Clarets.

Callum Paterson (£5.1m) returns to the centre-forward position for Cardiff, while Victor Camarasa (£4.6m) is used in a traditional central midfield role for the Bluebirds.

Huddersfield hand a Premier League debut to Jason Puncheon (£4.2m), who has recently arrived from Crystal Palace, in a right attacking midfield position.

Vicente Guaita (£4.2m) holds down his place in Crystal Palace’s goal for the sixth match in a row, as Roy Hodgson goes for a 4-3-3 formation against Watford.

The Hornets continue with their 4-4-2 system, Gerard Deulofeu (£5.5m) and Troy Deeney (£5.9m) leading the line for Javi Gracia’s men.

Meanwhile, James Maddison (£6.8m) returns to the Leicester City line-up after an unused substitutes role against Everton.

Today’s visitors to the King Power Stadium Southampton have selected Shane Long (£4.7m) as the lone striker with Danny Ings (£5.6m) and Charlie Austin (£5.5m) both out.

Brighton XI: Button; Bong, Duffy, Dunk, Montoya; Pröpper, Stephens; Locadia, Groß, March; Murray.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Fabinho, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Shaqiri, Firmino, Mane, Salah.

Burnley XI: Heaton; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Hendrick, Cork, Westwood, McNeil; Wood, Barnes.

Fulham XI: Rico; Odoi, Ream, Le Marchand; Christie, Chambers, Seri, Bryan; Schürrle, Mitrovic, Sessegnon.

Cardiff XI: Etheridge; Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson; Mendez-Laing, Arter, Camarasa, Hoilett; Paterson.

Huddersfield XI: Lössl; Hadergjonaj, Schindler, Zanka, Durm; Billing, Hogg; Kachunga, Pritchard, Puncheon; Mounie.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; Kouyaté, Milivojevic, McArthur; Townsend, Ayew, Zaha.

Watford XI: Foster; Kiko Femenía, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas; Doucouré, Capoue; Hughes, Pereyra; Deulofeu, Deeney.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel; Ricardo Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Choudhury, Mendy, Ndidi; Albrighton, Vardy, Maddison.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard; Valery, Oriol Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Targett; Redmond, Armstrong; Long.

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