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Match Preview Brentford v Liverpool
After a confidence-boosting 5-1 Champions League win in midweek, Liverpool return to Premier League action on Saturday night as they travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford.
The two sides last met in January, when Darwin Nunez’s stoppage-time double sealed a 2-1 win for the Reds at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s side needed that European uplift after a rough domestic spell. Liverpool had suffered four straight defeats across all competitions – their worst run since 2014 – including a damaging 2-1 home loss to Manchester United last weekend.
Despite an eye-catching £450m summer outlay, defensive lapses continue to undermine their progress, with 18 goals conceded in 13 matches this season.
Their midweek comeback in Frankfurt eased some pressure, as Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai all found the net.
But in the Premier League, Liverpool have slipped to third with 15 points from eight games (W5 L3), now four behind leaders Arsenal.
A concerning trend for Slot’s men is their late-game fragility, each of their last three league defeats came via goals in the final 10 minutes. No top-flight side has ever lost four in a row in that fashion.
Team news for Brentford v Liverpool
Brentford will be without Antoni Milambo (ACL) and Paris Maghoma (thigh), while Aaron Hickey faces a late fitness test after missing the West Ham match. Keane Lewis-Potter is pushing to return at left wing-back, and ex-Liverpool pair Caoimhin Kelleher and Jordan Henderson are both set to start.
Top scorer Igor Thiago (5 league goals) should lead the line, supported by either Kevin Schade or Dango Ouattara.
Liverpool are dealing with fresh injury concerns after their midweek win. Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Alexander Isak (groin) are expected to miss out, joining Giovanni Leoni (ACL) and Alisson Becker (hamstring) on the sidelines. Ryan Gravenberch could return after recovering from an ankle problem.
Arne Slot may recall Mohamed Salah, who has gone seven league games without a goal from open play, while Florian Wirtz is pushing for a start after a lively cameo and two assists in Frankfurt.
Expected line-ups for Brentford v Liverpool
Brentford: Kelleher; Collins, Van den Berg, Pinnock; Kayode, Henderson, Yarmolyuk, Lewis-Potter; Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
How to watch Brentford v Liverpool: TV channel, online stream
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event in the UK, with coverage beginning an hour before the 8pm kick-off.
Fans can also stream the action via the Sky Go app or NOW TV for subscribers.
The stats for Brentford v Liverpool
- Liverpool have won five consecutive meetings with Brentford, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one in that run
- Brentford have scored in 7 of their 8 league games this season
- Liverpool have netted in all 8 of their Premier League clashes with Brentford – their joint-second longest 100% scoring record against any club
- The Reds have lost four straight away games in London, their worst such run since 1970
- Igor Thiago has 5 goals in 8 league appearances, while Mohamed Salah has gone 7 PL matches without a goal from open play
- Both teams have conceded 12+ goals already this season, showing defensive vulnerabilities on both sides
Prediction
Liverpool’s midweek display in Frankfurt was a step in the right direction, but their domestic form remains patchy and their defending suspect. Brentford will look to capitalise on that, especially with their energetic home approach and Igor Thiago’s sharp finishing.
Still, the Reds’ attacking firepower and superior quality in midfield should see them through – even if it’s tight.
Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Liverpool
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
