Mohamed Salah bagged two goals as Liverpool breezed past the Bees 3-0 at Anfield.
With the international break ahead, Liverpool had the chance to move up to 2nd in the Premier League table before the small matter of taking on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
In the meantime, they had to collect three points against Thomas Frank’s Brentford. Liverpool are yet to record a victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, but their form at home against the Bees has been flawless (3-0 & 1-0 wins).
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were looking to bounce back from a mid-week defeat to Toulouse in the Europa League – just their second loss all campaign so far. The boss named a strong starting eleven, with a youthful bench.
Luis Diaz was the only outfield player on the bench above the age of 20-years-old. Electric midfielder, Trey Nyoni, also made the match-day squad. Nyoni was born in 2007.
Wataru Endo was awarded a start in midfield alongside Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, with Alexis Mac Allister out due to picking up too many yellow cards.
The first clear cut chance of the match fell to Brentford’s 24-year-old Bryan Mbeumo, who was left one-on-one with Alisson. The Brazilian shot-stopper would come out victorious in this duel, steering behind for a corner.
Liverpool’s first goal came after Joel Matip won possession back in midfield, Trent Alexander-Arnold fed into the feet of Darwin Nunez, who knocked it to his strike partner Mohamed Salah. With no hesitation, Salah finished tidily.
The most unfortunate man of the first half was, in fact, Nunez, who had two goals disallowed for tight offsides.
The Reds have made Anfield some fortress so far this campaign, with Liverpool winning every game so far at the famous ground by a margin of at least two goals. A trend which would continue against Brentford.
Left-back Kostas Tsimikas did well to keep the ball in play at the byline, before cutting back, where Salah was waiting to head home his second of the game. His tenth in the Premier League this season as well.
The Greek full-back would collect two assists in the match, as he provided the pass for Diogo Jota’s superb outside-of-the-box finish. With that, the win was all-but-confirmed.
The 19-year-old midfielder James McConnell made his Premier League debut as he was substituted on for Dominik Szoboszlai in the 90+4th minute. So, not a lot of action in fairness. But a debut nonetheless.
Three goals, a clean sheet, and three points at Anfield. Brentford are still looking for their first league goal at Anfield since winning 4-3 back in 1937/38. The Reds move to 2nd in the league before the third international break of the season.
Liverpool’s next challenge is undoubtedly one of the toughest on the world’s stage: Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Kick-off is at 12:30pm (of course) on Saturday, 25 November.
Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Quansah 90), Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai (McConnell 90+4), Endo, Gakpo (Elliott 83), Salah, Nunez, Jota (Diaz 84).
Brentford team: Flekken, Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Mee, Roerslev (Ghoddos 72), Jensen (Yarmolyuk 72), Norgaard, Janelt (Onyeka 46), Mbeumo, Wissa (Maupay 72).
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