Liverpool vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result and reaction from fixture today
Follow all the latest updates in the Premier League this afternoon at Anfield
Jurgen Klopp burst towards the Kop, furiously fist-pumping to illustrate the importance of victory against Brentford. This wasn’t a blockbuster game, nor blockbuster opponents but Liverpool’s manager knows the fight and three points can be vital signs for the rest of the season.
A first win in four league matches came on his 350th outing in charge of the club, catapulting them above Chelsea in second, but it wasn’t without heaps of toil.
Virgil van Dijk kissed Fabinho’s head, a symbol of relief as Anfield broke into rapture. They had probed and probed some more. They had come close and then started to come unstuck as Brentford began to show aggression beyond defensive resistance in their own box.
Finally, on 44 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner had evaded the visitors’ defiance and was headed in at the back post by Fabinho. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino wrapped up the win in the second half.
Follow all the match reaction and analysis from Anfield, plus reaction from West Ham vs Leeds below:
Liverpool rediscover scoring touch to sweep past Brentford and move up to second
Jurgen Klopp reveals ‘long talk’ with Curtis Jones over his potential at Liverpool
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp learns useful lesson from Arsenal stalemate
Jurgen Klopp looking for Liverpool ‘solution’ in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s absence
Liverpool vs Brentford
Roberto Firmino has scored four goals in his last three league appearances against promoted sides, having scored just four times in his previous 27 such games.
Liverpool vs Brentford
Brentford have conceded the opening goal in 12 of their last 13 top-flight fixtures, while a league-high 20 of the 30 goals they have let in have been in the first half.
Their 10 most recent Premier League goals have been scored by 10 different players, including a Jamaal Lascelles own goal.
Liverpool vs Brentford: Jurgen Klopp reveals ‘long talk’ with Curtis Jones over his potential at Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has had “a long talk” with Curtis Jones as he believes it is now time for the academy graduate to step up and start fulfilling his potential.
The 20-year-old has endured a difficult time since October, with a freak eye injury in training being followed by a Covid-enforced absence.
However, he had previously shown flashes of his brilliance, dominating the game in the 5-1 Champions League win over Porto, and with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane – at the Africa Cup of Nations – and hip-injury victim Thiago Alcantara all absent his creativity could be an important factor in the coming weeks.
Jurgen Klopp reveals ‘long talk’ with Curtis Jones over his potential
The 20-year-old has endured a difficult time since October
Liverpool vs Brentford
Liverpool have lost their first home league match in just one of the past 16 calendar years but the Reds have dropped points in five of their seven Premier League matches against London opposition this campaign.
Liverpool vs Brentford
Excluding the inaugural season in 1992-93, the only teams to win on their first Premier League visit to Anfield are Newcastle United (1993-94), Barnsley (1997-98), Watford (1999-2000) and Blackpool (2010-11).
Brentford kept a clean sheet in their first two Premier League matches but have only managed two more in their subsequent 18 attempts.
Liverpool vs Brentford: Klopp on development of Curtis Jones
Jurgen Klopp says that he had a long talk with Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones on how to bring the best form out of the 20-year-old on a more consistent basis. He said:
“I had a long talk last week with Curtis [Jones]. I love the boy, I love the potential he has but we have to come now there where we really make the next steps [so] that he fulfils the potential he has on the pitch very often.
“He is young, very young. But how I see, his potential is incredible. We both together have to find a way to show that much more often. We are there really in this development. He can play different positions in different ways. [Against Arsenal] we brought him and wanted just from him really to dribble, to be there in these tight areas, to change the way they had to defend us because we passed the ball out to Robbo [Andy Robertson] and then he could cross or not. And if not then we passed the ball back and again cross from there.
“So we needed a different dynamic and dimension in the game, that’s why we brought him in exactly in that way. But he cannot only play that. He can of course play as No.8 as well, he did already very well for us.
“It’s an ongoing process with Curtis and me. I know he had now a tricky time with the eye [injury], long out, and after that with COVID. It’s not helpful but now we try to make sure he gets rhythm and can show how good he can actually be.”
Liverpool vs Brentford: Frank on Liverpool’s threats
Thomas Frank says that even without the ‘world-class’ talents of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, Liverpool are still one of the most attacking threats in the Premier League. Frank said:
Sadio Mane and Mo Salah are two world-class players and have done fantastically for Liverpool. I still think they have very good players in Diogo Jota, Firmino, Takumi Minamino, and Curtis Jones.
“They will still be a top side. We know that it is going to be unbelievably difficult, but we will embrace the moment, try to attack, and win the game.
“When Liverpool play their top game they are the most difficult team to defend against in spells. If they really have you then they are threatening you with in-swing crosses, crosses from a little bit outside the box, through balls, and, if you go a little bit higher, they play in behind.
“They attack with all kind of angles and with all kind of weapons. They are so good at that; the best I would say in the Premier League. That is why it is going to be a massive challenge.”
Liverpool vs Brentford
Liverpool have won just one of their last six fixtures in all competitions and none of their last three in the league.
They have failed to win either of their last two Premier League home games against promoted sides, drawing against West Brom and losing against Fulham last season. They last went three without a win in such matches between December 2000 and January 2002.
Liverpool vs Brentford: Head-to-head
Brentford are without a win in eight matches against Liverpool in all competitions since a 2-1 top-flight victory at Griffin Park in November 1938.
This is the first time Brentford have visited Anfield since an FA Cup quarter-final defeat in March 1989. The Reds last hosted the Bees in a league match back in October 1946.
Brentford have lost their last five away games against Liverpool in all competitions. Their only win at Anfield came in November 1937 when Bobby Reid netted a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory.
Liverpool vs Brentford: Jurgen Klopp looking for Liverpool ‘solution’ in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s absence
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is determined to find a short-term solution to the absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Despite playing against 10 men for 71 minutes, the goalless Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg draw with Arsenal represented the first time since April the Reds had failed to score at home.
That inevitably led the focus to fall on two forwards currently occupied at the Africa Cup of Nations who have provided 24 goals and 10 assists across 20 Premier League matches this season.
Jurgen Klopp looking for ‘solution’ in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s absence
The goalless Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg draw with Arsenal represented the first time since April the Reds had failed to score at home
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