Liverpool will host Brentford at Anfield on Sunday, looking to continue their impressive start to the season with a win at home.
Liverpool picked up a comfortable victory away from home against Ipswich Town in their season opener, and the Reds will be confident heading into the game against Brentford as well. They are undoubtedly the better team on paper and the fans will expect a strong performance.
Meanwhile, Brentford picked up a win over Crystal Palace in their opening game of the season as well. The Bees have a talented squad at their disposal, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset at Anfield.
It will be a massive challenge for them, and the players will have to produce a flawless performance to grind out a positive result here. It remains to be seen how the contest unfolds. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Liverpool have a fully-fit squad to choose from heading into the game against Brentford. They are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start at the heart of the defence alongside club captain Virgil van Dijk.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister will add creativity and control alongside Ryan Gravenberch in the double pivot. The Dutchman will look to control the tempo of the game.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add pace and flair from the flanks. Darwin Nunez will lead the line for Liverpool, with Dominik Szoboszlai behind him in the hole. The Hungarian will look to create goalscoring opportunities and add drive to the side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Brentford
The visitors will be without the services of Joshua Da Silva, Rico Henry, and Igor Rodrigues, because of knee injuries. Aaron Hickey misses out with a thigh injury.
The away side will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mark Flekken in goal. Mads Roerslev and Kristoffer Ajer will be deployed in the full-back areas. They will look to keep things compact defensively and nullify the wide threat from Liverpool. Nathan Collins will start in the defensive unit alongside Ethan Pinnock.
As for the midfield unit, Vitaly Janelt will start as the defensive midfielder alongside Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen. All three players will look to add defensive cover and physicality to the side.
They will look to outmuscle Liverpool in the midfield and protect the defensive unit. Yoane Wissa will lead the line for Brentford here, with Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Ajer; Norgaard, Janelt, Jensen; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade
Key Stats
- Liverpool are undefeated in 29 of their last 32 matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in their last five matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 home matches against Brentford in all competitions.
- 22 goals have been scored in the last four matches between these two sides.
- Brentford have picked up just one win against Liverpool in the last six meetings.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian international is our key player to watch out for. Mohamed Salah was outstanding against Ipswich Town, and he has been a consistent performer for Liverpool over the last seven seasons.
Salah managed to get on the score sheet against the newly promoted side, and he set up another for his teammate, Diogo Jota last week as well. Liverpool will depend on him to open up goalscoring opportunities and find the back of the net. He could cause all sorts of problems to the Brentford defence, and it remains to be seen whether he can help his side grind out all three points.
Prediction
Liverpool 3-1 Brentford
Liverpool are the better team on paper, but they will have to work hard to grind out a win here. Brentford are no pushovers and they will look to put up a fight here. Both teams are attacking in their approach and they will look to score goals.
A high scoring game could be on the cards. However, Liverpool have plenty of quality in their ranks and they should be able to emerge victorious here. A win for the home team is very much on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 victory for Arne Slot and his charges.