Brighton vs Liverpool kick-off delayed as Premier League issue statement
Brighton & Hove Albion host Liverpool in the Premier League's early kick-off on Saturday, but the match has been pushed back by 15 minutes, with a statement issued
by Felix Keith · The MirrorThe Premier League have been forced to delay kick-off in Brighton's game against Liverpool on Saturday due to traffic caused by an accident.
The Seagulls were supposed to be hosting the Reds in a 12.30pm kick-off at the Amex Stadium. But the Premier League took the decision to push back the start time by 15 minutes.
It is understood that there has been a road traffic accident on the nearby A27. The match is being shown live on TNT Sports.
The Premier League match centre tweeted: "Kick-off for today’s Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool has been delayed by 15 minutes to 12:45pm, due to heavy traffic in the local area delaying the arrival of supporters."
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The stadium was empty half an hour before kick-off, with many supporters yet to make it inside due to the congestion nearby. Brighton appeared to delay their warm-up, perhaps having been informed early of the delay.
"We do have a lot of empty seats still at the moment," presenter Lynsey Hipgrave said on TNT Sports. "There is going to be a delay to kick-off here while they try and get as many fans as possible into the stadium. There has been an accident on the A27 heading toward the AMEX today, so long tailbacks outside.
"They are going to hold the match back a little bit just to try and get as many of the supporters in as they can."
Liverpool arrive on the south coast following their comprehensive 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League in mid-week at Anfield. Arne Slot is without goalkeeper Alisson Becker and star winger Mohamed Salah due to injury.
He has therefore brought Giorgi Mamardashvili and Cody Gakpo into the starting line-up. Brighton, meanwhile, are unchanged from the team which beat Sunderland last weekend.
Brighton: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Milner, Gross; Gomez, Hinshelwood, Minteh; Welbeck.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.
Brighton have won three of their past four Premier League games and are in a confident mood. "We will stick to our principles and not get distracted by the lows we have had. I am a big believer in this team and the quality of these players," manager Fabian Hurzeler told Sky Sports.
"These players stepped up against Sunderland. Every player on the pitch knows their role. We need to play intense. You have to be intense against the top teams. It is a long journey from Liverpool to Brighton and we have to use that advantage.
"I always see a football game as an event and supporters pay a lot of money. I want them to enjoy it."
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