Hurzeler on Mitoma, fan support and Liverpool

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler addressed the media on Friday ahead of the Seagulls’ lunchtime Premier League meeting with Liverpool, declaring Kaoru Mitoma fit for selection and urging supporters to turn the Amex into a venue “that no-one wants to go”.

Mitoma, the Japan international winger, had been a doubt after a recent setback but is now available, giving Hurzeler a welcome boost as he plots a first victory over the Reds since taking charge in the summer. “There are no new injury concerns and winger Kaoru Mitoma is available for contention,” the German confirmed.

Brighton arrive at the weekend looking to arrest a wobble that has seen them slip from the European conversation, yet Hurzeler insists the squad’s mentality has not wavered. “I never stop thinking about how I can improve the team and how we can improve as a club, on the pitch and off it,” he said. “My team always stick together. It’s important to keep working hard and keeping standards high. We do that well.”

With the Premier League table tighter than ever, the 31-year-old believes every remaining fixture carries cup-final significance if Brighton are to re-enter the top-eight picture. “The Premier League is unpredictable this season,” he noted. “We need to play every game like it’s a final to see if we can get into the top eight.”

Saturday’s assignment is daunting: Liverpool swept past Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday and have lost only once in all competitions since September. Hurzeler praised the Merseysiders’ form, saying: “We all know Liverpool are still one of the best teams with incredible individual quality. They came into a flow and when Liverpool get into a flow they are dangerous for every team.”

The Albion boss, however, sees no reason to be passive. “It’s our responsibility to disrupt Liverpool’s flow,” he stated. “We can do that by being prepared and intense.”

Central to that plan will be the club’s 12th man. Hurzeler revealed his “relationship with the fans has never been closer” after navigating a testing run of results together, and he hopes the bond will translate into decibels at a sold-out Amex. “Be as loud as possible, be behind us, be pushing, be creating an energy,” he implored. “We can create a place that no-one wants to go and that will help our intensity and performance. The fans against Arsenal were on it and they influenced the game.”

Selection dilemmas also occupy the coach’s thoughts. Competition for starting berths is fierce, but Hurzeler views the variety of profiles across his squad as an asset rather than a headache. “The competition is on for a starting place,” he acknowledged. “A lot of my players have different attributes and the squad can benefit game-to-game.”

Kick-off on Saturday is at 12:30 GMT, with Brighton seeking a statement result to reignite their season and Liverpool aiming to maintain the momentum that has carried them to the summit of domestic and European competitions.