Liverpool will take on Brentford in their next Premier League game, hoping to pick up a morale-boosting win away from home.
Liverpool are currently sixth in the Premier League table, and they will be hoping to close in on the top four with a victory away from home at Brentford.
Jurgen Klopp will feel that this is a golden opportunity for his players to close the gap with their rivals. Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham have dropped points over the last few days, and the Reds will be hoping to take advantage of that.
Liverpool have managed to win their last four league matches, and they will be full of confidence heading into this contest. Although they were lucky to grind out a win over Leicester City in their last league game, the visitors will fancy their chances of grinding out the all-important three points.
Meanwhile, Brentford come into this game on the back of a comprehensive win over West Ham United, and they will be looking to pull off a home win against Liverpool. Thomas Frank’s men are capable of beating any side on their day and the Reds will have to work hard to pick up an away win here.
We begin 2023 with a trip to the capital 🛣 pic.twitter.com/rlfZsNmNy5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 31, 2022
Team News & Tactics
Brentford
Thomas Frank will be without the services of Kristoffer Ajer, Aaron Hickey and Shandon Baptiste. Ivan Toney picked up an injury in the last game and he is set to miss out as well. Thomas Frank is likely to set up his side in a 3-5-2 formation with David Raya in goal.
Zanka, Ethan Pinnock and Ben Mee will line up as the central defenders in a back three. In the midfield, Mads Roerslev and Rico Henry will start as the wing-backs. In front of them, Mathias Jensen, Christian Norgaard and Vitaly Janelt will feature in the middle of the park. Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo will likely form the strike partnership.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Raya; Zanka, Pinnock, Lee; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Henry; Wissa, Mbeumo
Liverpool
The visitors will be without the services of Arthur Melo, Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota. All three players are long-term absentees for Liverpool. Liverpool are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are expected to line up as the full-backs. Virgil van Dijk will retain his position at the centre of the Liverpool defence alongside Joel Matip against Brentford.
In the midfield, Thiago Alcantara is set to partner Naby Keita and Fabinho is expected to return to action after missing out against Leicester City due to personal reasons. In the attack, Mohamed Salah will start on the right flank, with Darwin Nunez leading the line. January signing Cody Gakpo could make his debut on the left flank for the visitors.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Key Stats
- Liverpool have been winning at both half time and full time in their last four matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have won their last four matches in the Premier League.
- Brentford have scored at least two goals in their last four matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in their last four matches in the Premier League.
- Brentford are undefeated in their last five Premier League matches.
Player to Watch
Darwin Nunez
The Uruguayan striker continues to impress with his performances despite not getting on the scoresheet. The 22-year-old caused all sorts of problems for Leicester City in the last game, and he will look to harass the Brentford defence with his pace, flair and relentless work ethic.
Nunez will be desperate to get on the score sheet, and he will certainly fancy his chances against Brentford on Monday.
Prediction
Brentford 2-2 Liverpool
Liverpool have won their last four league matches. But they are up against a motivated Brentford side, and this is going to be a close encounter. Brentford are in impressive from coming into this contest, and the win over West Ham United will have given them a significant confidence boost. The hosts are unbeaten in their last five league games.
The Bees will be looking to grind out a result here, and the two sides are likely to cancel each other out. Both teams will look to pick up the three points, and this should be an open game with a fair few chances for either side. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw on Monday.
