By Alex Heath
Liverpool will face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday as they look to bounce back in the league from last week's disheartening 3-0 home loss to Manchester City.
The Reds recovered well midweek, beating Austrian champions LASK 6-3 in the Champions League, but will face a tougher test against Keith Andrew’s men, who sit fourth in the Premier League.
Credits: BBC Sports
Match Context
Unbeaten Brentford have already recorded 3-0 wins over both Tottenham and Chelsea this season, showcasing their early credentials as they eye European qualification, and Liverpool will need to be on top of their game to hand the Bees their first loss of the season.
Brentford have scored 12 league goals to Liverpool’s seven and are on an eight-game unbeaten run at home in the division. They sit fourth on 10 points, having won two matches and drawn four.
The Bees took four points from Liverpool last season, including a 3-2 win at the Gtech, with goals from Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago.
Liverpool’s big summer signing Bradley Barcola bagged his first career hat-trick against LASK on Wednesday, and was joined on the scoresheet by Ronald Aruajo, Jeremie Frimpong and Lewis Koumas in a confidence-boosting attacking display. This was Liverpool’s second Champions League win in as many games, having beaten Atletico Madrid last month.
The Reds' league form has been less impressive; they sit ninth with two wins, three draws and one defeat. The loss against City was their first under Iraola in all competitions, and Iraola’s first loss in 23 Premier League games, including the end of his time at Bournemouth.
Liverpool competed admirably against City, considering the injuries to Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak, until a controversial red card for Ryan Gravenberch, who had been outstanding, turned the game in City’s favour. From that point on, Enzo Maresca’s side ran riot at Anfield.
Both of Liverpool’s league wins this season have come away from home, against Ipswich and Bournemouth. Another victory here would see the Reds leapfrog Brentford in the table, potentially into the top four, while a loss would likely see them slide into the bottom half after seven fixtures.
Team News
Ryan Gravenberch will serve a one-match suspension for his game-changing red card against City. Trey Nyoni is likely to make his full Premier League debut as his replacement after his excellent performance against LASK.
About the availability of Szoboszlai, Gakpo and Isak, Iraola said: “It's too early for us to say, we have to train tomorrow. It’s early but like I said they were not ready for previous games, I leave the chance open.” It is unlikely that any of them will come back in from the start.
The Liverpool boss will have to decide between Victor Munoz, who was excellent against City, and Rio Ngumoha, who was equally excellent against LASK, at right-wing.
Long-term absentees Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley (both knee) remain sidelined.
Kevin Schade, Brentford’s top scorer this season, who bagged against the Reds at home and away last year, is a doubt with a shoulder injury. Centre-backs Jannik Schuster and Nathan Collins may also miss out, leaving room for former Red Sepp Van Den Berg to start.
Key Players
Bradley Barcola will look to kick on now that he’s off the mark as a Liverpool player. The rangy winger was far too good for the LASK defenders and had the end product to match. With Gakpo and Isak unlikely to play, the Frenchman must step up again.
Trey Nyoni and Alexis Mac Allister have gelled nicely in their limited minutes together this season, but face a serious challenge against a physical and experienced side. The pair lack physical presence but will hope to control the ball and be smart positionally to limit Brentford’s ability to counter-attack, where they thrive.
Jeremy Jacquet has been a revelation for the Reds at centre back, winning over 75% of his duels, and his ability to win balls stepping into midfield and use his recovery pace will be vital again.
Brentford could be without two of their outstanding players in Damsgaard and Schade but still carry a serious threat through Igor Thiago, who scored 22 league goals last season. The Brazilian has the sixth-highest expected goals in the league this season (3.20), showing he is still getting into good positions, despite only scoring once.
Dango Ouattara scored from a Michael Kayode long throw-in in last year’s fixture, and that remains one of the league’s most dangerous set-piece weapons.
Credits: Brentford FC
Predicted XI
Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Van den Berg, Ajer, Lewis-Potter; Yarmolyuk, Janelt; Anthony, Jensen, Ouattara; Thiago
Liverpool: Alisson; Araújo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Nyoni, Mac Allister; Muñoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas
Result
Anything but their best will not be enough for the Reds, and a poor performance will see them join Tottenham and Chelsea on the list of sides stung at the Gtech this season.
Brentford 2-2 Liverpool.
Liverpool had looked more solid at the back under Iraola, but have conceded six in two games since the international break, suggesting we may be in for more goals here.
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