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Hurzeler on team news, allowing fans 'to dream' and facing Liverpool

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

  • Hurzeler confirmed Pascal Struijk will be assessed before a decision is made on his availability for Sunday: "It's not a big issue, but it's something that can get bigger if you risk it too early. We have to make wise decisions."

  • Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer are close to a return, with the Brighton boss "quite convinced" they will be back in the matchday squad next week if not on Sunday.

  • He also confirmed Jason Steele missed Thursday's trip to Jablonec through illness, while a decision was made to rest Diego Gomez and Maxim de Cuyper before travelling to Liverpool.

  • Hurzeler said they "have a lot of confidence and belief" following recent results, but it's about taking it "game-by-game" and not getting carried away with the league positioning.

  • In response to whether he encourages fans to dream this season, he said: "I love our fans and if you have ambitions and a dream, then you should visualise it. It's important that our fans have these type of expectations, ambitions and dreams because then we get even more out of them and more connection. They should dream, and we will focus on the game."

  • On Pascall Gross, who has missed less than 60 minutes of football so far this season: "There are some players who need this rhythm. We always want to have a player like him on the pitch and at the moment he seems to cope really well with this intensity and rhythm."

  • He said he has "a really good team" around him that will help with the challenge of the next five games being away from home, adding: "Travel wastes time and energy. It's really important that you manage it well and we take care of recovery."

  • On facing Andoni Iraola's Reds: "We know what we can expect from Liverpool. Very intense pressing so a very intense game. Anfield is always a very special environment and atmosphere. We have to be prepared mentally and physically, but we seem to be in a good place."

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