Zerbi seeking vision to keep him at Brighton

ROBERTO DE ZERBI has got Liverpool FC on his mind for the next 24 hours at the leastbut Brighton fans will remain fearful that their coach has longer-term Kop ideas.

-  ALEX SMITH

De Zerbi takes his Seagulls to Anfield today having been widely touted as a managerial candidate for Liverpool, given the pending departure of Jurgen Klopp.

Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso was the initial frontrunner for that job but the former Reds midfielder ruled himself out of contention earlier this week.

De Zerbi arrived at Brighton as successor to Graham Potter in September 2022, leading the Seagulls to a top-seven finish last season and the Europa League's last-16 this campaign.

However, he failed to reassure Brighton fans fretting over whether their Italian coach might be lured to Merseyside.

De Zerbi (right) insisted that he would have to talk to Brighton owner Tony Bloom and be sure that the south-coast club's ambition matches his before deciding his next move.