Liverpool vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after Mohamed Salah strikes to seal victory

Brentford are in their rather funky change strup today, a soft pink with purple accenting. Arne Slot follows the last of the visiting substitutes out, welcomed by an ovation and a few customised banners. He shares a chuckle with one set of fans just behind the dugout as he spies his face emblazoned on a flag of some kind.

Right, it’s time for action at Anfield. A pleasant housewarming for Arne Slot, or will Brentford be able to poop the party?

Thomas Frank plays coy over Brentford’s system when asked by Sky Sports ahead of kick off, though a wry smile at the question would suggest that Keane Lewis-Potter may well be at wing-back.

Of his absent striker Ivan Toney, Frank says: “The status is the same as last week. Things are going on with Ivan and transfer negotiations, so the decision is the same as last week. To be honest, I’d rather focus on the game and the players playing.”

So a first home game in charge for Arne Slot today, but how did Jurgen Klopp transform the club into Premier League winners? Liverpool’s former head of data, Ian Graham, has written a book about his time at Anfield, with plenty of fascinating titbits:

Brentford having scored at Anfield on their last five visits to Merseyside. You do think there may be opportunities to get at this Liverpool side today, though, with the hosts very much still adjusting to life under Arne Slot. Ipswich had a handful of early chances last week and both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa looked buzzy and bright against Crystal Palace.

We’ll see exactly how Brentford line up at kick off, but Thomas Frank used a five-at-the-back formation at Anfield last November, and has the versatility within his side today to shift into that shape if required. That might mean Keane Lewis-Potter at wing-back rather than up in the front three.

Curtis Jones might hope to contend for a pace in that Liverpool midfield at some point this season, but is absent today with what the club describe as a “minor issue”.

An unchanged Liverpool midfield should see Ryan Gravenberch once more operate from slightly deeper. The Dutchman showed encouraging signs in that position a week ago and could be a key figure to Liverpool’s evolution, as Karl Matchett explained:

There is, as expected, no Ivan Toney in the Brentford squad as negotiations continue over a possible move away from the club.