Liverpool vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Mohamed Salah winner
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford: Mohamed Salah’s early goal helped the Reds move a point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who have two games in hand
An early goal by Mohamed Salah was enough to give Liverpool a 1-0 Premier League win over Brentford on Saturday that keeps the pressure on fierce rivals Manchester United in the hunt for Champions League football next season.
Their sixth league win in a row left the Merseysiders in fifth spot on 62 points, one behind fourth-placed United, but the Red Devils have two games in hand over Liverpool. Brentford are ninth on 50 points.
Before the game got underway, the Liverpool fans loudly booed, whistled and chanted their team’s name as the national anthem was played to mark the coronation of King Charles in London earlier on Saturday.
Brentford strung five across the back in an effort to thwart Liverpool’s array of attacking riches, but they still went behind in the 13th minute as Virgil van Dijk headed Fabinho’s cross back for Salah to bundle home his 100th goal at Anfield.
Bryan Mbeumo out-sprinted and out-muscled Van Dijk to fire home in the 40th minute for Brentford, but the flag went up for a marginal offside that was confirmed by VAR and the goal was disallowed.
Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo both wasted good chances to increase Liverpool’s lead, but with Brentford only managing a single shot on target, Salah’s goal proved enough for the home side to claim the victory.
Relive the day’s action after Liverpool defeated Brentford and Man City returned to the top against Leeds:
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
63 mins: Mbeumo fires it low towards the front post from the free-kick but it can’t get through the sea of bodies and Liverpool can clear it away.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
62 mins: Onyeka does well to chase down an overhit cross and Toney takes full advantage, jinking past several Liverpool players before drawing a foul from Robertson on the right edge of the box.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
59 mins: A busy start to the second half but Liverpool have regained some modicum of control as they search for a second.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
54 mins: Yellow card. Gakpo, perhaps in frustration, hauls down Mbeumo moments later. Konate kicks the ball away and the centre-back is shown a yellow card.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
53 mins: HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN? Jota finds a bit of space inside the box and Salah’s ball finds him. The Portuguese international fires the ball across the box and it finds Gakpo who is no more than a couple of yards out.
The ball hits him but, without the time to react, the ball doesn’t end up in the net and bounces wide.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
51 mins: A real positive start to the half from Brentford as Mbeumo’s cross is caught by Alisson after a lovely first-time backheel from Toney had set his strike partner free down the left.
Up the other end, Alexander-Arnold sees his long-range effort fly high into the stands.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
48 mins: Brentford have the first chance of the second half through Onyeka as the midfielder’s effort is blocked by Fabinho. Muted appeals from the Brentford fans for handball are turned away by the referee.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
46 mins: No half-time changes for either sides as Liverpool get this second half underway!
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
Prior to the match, the playing of the national anthem - to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III earlier in the day - was met by boos and chants from Liverpool fans.
Reds supporters hold a long-established opposition towards the establishment, with the booing of the national anthem becoming widespread in the 1980s and during the Conservative government’s “managed decline” of the city. The failings of the government following the Hillsborough disaster further entrenched those feelings.
Why do Liverpool fans boo the national anthem?
Liverpool fans booed the national anthem before the Premier League game against Brentford on coronation day
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
No action in added time so Liverpool remain 1-0 up as we head to the break. The home side had much the better of the opening period and made their advantage count when Salah tapped in for his 100th Anfield goal.
Nunez missed a good chance shortly after but Brentford can be pleased with how they grew into that first half. Toney fired just wide from a free-kick before Mbeumo’s superb solo effort was ruled for offside.
Liverpool lead but it’s far from over.
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