LIVERPOOL VS BRENTFORD: PREVIEW

Liverpool have won each of their last five league fixtures (going unbeaten in seven) as they seek to end the season on a positive note. They host Brentford later today aiming to make it six wins on the bounce. Here’s the match preview.

Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham. All five have been defeated in this run, and even despite all posing different sets of challenges, Klopp’s men found a way to notch all three points.

Brentford will as well present their own unique challenge. Thomas Frank has done an unbelievable job at The Bees, with the Londoners even in with a shout of securing European football for next season. It has been an incredible rise since they secured promotion from the Championship in 2021.

They are excellently drilled defensively, whilst possessing the attacking quality in Mbeumo and Toney to hurt the opposition on the counter. They are also deadly from set piece situations, with their height and physical prowess always seeing them cause problems.

Liverpool found that out the hard way on their trip to the Community Stadium last season. Thomas Frank set up his side to overload Trent’s side at the backpost and attack crosses from the opposite flank. It is a tactic that worked a treat as they held the Reds to an exciting 3-3 draw.

The Reds got their comeuppance on the Bees’ last trip to Anfield, romping to a 3-0 victory. Even that win wasn’t straightforward, with Brentford holding firm till a scrappy Fabinho goal on the stroke of halftime broke their resolve.

It will be very interesting to see how the Reds’ recent changes to the system works against Brentford’s setup. Frank has made no secret of the fact he always charges his side to hit long balls into the right channel against Liverpool due to Trent usually playing high up the pitch.

With the Scouser now operating in a hybrid role where he spends most of his time in a midfield double pivot, we can expect to see the Bees’ target that area even more. It promises to be an intriguing tactical battle to say the least.

The right sided centre back (likely Konaté) will no doubt have his hands full, with both Toney and Mbeumo sure to try and capitalise on the space in behind. In the last meeting (back in January), Frank’s side got the better of the Reds as they eased to a 3-1 victory.

Set pieces and swift counter attacks were once again chief in their armoury, with Konaté putting through his own net from a corner, before Wissa and Mbeumo netted following turnovers in midfield. Oxlade-Chamberlain had halved the deficit in the second half but Brentford were not to be denied.

The Bees sit 9th in the league table, just four points behind Spurs in 7th. Their European dreams remain alive. Liverpool meanwhile sit in 5th place, hoping to exert even more pressure on rivals Manchester United in 4th.

A sixth successive league victory would see the Reds move to within just a point of Ten Hag’s men, albeit having played two games more. That could heap the pressure on when the Red Devils travel to relegation threatened West Ham United tomorrow.

Team News

Diogo Jota is still struggling with the knock he sustained against West Ham. He got a knock in the ribs when he came on against Fulham as well and has only been in light training. Jordan Henderson is also a doubt whilst Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita remain unavailable.

For Brentford, Thomas Strakosha (calf), Pontus Jansson (hamstring), Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) and Christian Norgaard (achilles tendon) are all ruled out through injury. Krostoffer Ajer’s fitness will be checked on ahead of the game.