Brighton vs. Liverpool: Reds Need Dominant Showing to Ease Fans' Concerns

Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool squad were just embarrassed this past weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur didn't just beat the heck out of the Reds, they destroyed them and their fans' optimism.

The defensive woes at Anfield are a legitimate cause for concern.

Liverpool are currently eighth in the Barclays Premier League table, but they have a minus-one goal differential and are on a two-game skid that they cannot attribute to European play.

Like most major clubs around Europe, the UEFA Champions League has forced a number of teams to play two-to-three games per week. The toll on the players' bodies is grueling and not every outfit has the depth to handle that at this stage of the campaign.

But that is not the case with Liverpool. They have only Premier League and the Carling Cup to contend with right now.

Their last Carling Cup match was in late August, nearly a month ago, and now they're set to take on Brighton at Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls beat out Sunderland in Round 2 of the competition, but they know they need a perfect showing to contend with Liverpool.

And this is a match the Reds cannot afford to lose.

Fans have been worried about the back line for some time now. Injuries certainly play a major part, but the defense isn't doing their part, and the attack is still trying to come together.

Captain Steven Gerrard is expected to make his return debut tonight, and the Reds desperately need his stability in the midfield. Dalglish has tried a number of different combinations to put the ball in the net, but Gerrard has been the missing piece for quite a while. 

It won't happen immediately, but this squad is going to be infinitely better with him on the pitch.

Following the shock 1-0 defeat to Stoke City and an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Spurs, the Anfield faithful need something to hang their hats on.

The Reds cannot afford another let down here. Besides the FA Cup, the Carling Cup is the only other trophy they will be in competition for, and this unit needs to come together now.

A match with Wolves will follow in three days, before the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and Manchester United's trip to Anfield on October 15th.

This club, and these fans, need something to build on right now.