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
45 mins: We head into the first of three minutes of added time to end this first half.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
Here’s the replay of Mbeumo’s offside goal. So very close to a Brentford equaliser:
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
44 mins: Yellow card. Fabinho brings down Toney and the Brazilian is shown a yellow and it’s another free-kick in a good area. Mbeumo delivers but Fabinho redeems himself with a good recovery header which Alisson can then claim.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
40 mins: DISALLOWED! Mbeumo with a superb composed finish after a great pass into him from Toney. He drives in from the right, beating Van Dijk, and finishes beyond Alisson but the offside flag goes up straight away.
VAR checks and confirms the offside decision. A lucky escape for Liverpool.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
39 mins: Onyeka is brought down by Fabinho and Brentford have a free-kick in a promising position. Toney steps up and drills it low around the wall. Alisson is sent sprawling to his left but the effort goes just wide of his post.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
36 mins: Brentford’s first corner of the game is played short. Mbeumo’s eventual cross is blocked away by Robertson and Liverpool can clear the subsequent long throw-in.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
33 mins: Janelt tries to sneak in behind the Liverpool defence and fashion an opportunity for Brentford. He can’t do so, however, and Liverpool have a goal kick.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
29 mins: CHANCE! Nunez is leading the line for Liverpool and he spurns a golden opportunity to double his side’s lead. It’s a glorious ball over the top from Alexander-Arnold and Nunez meets it but he can only spoon his effort over the bar from close range.
Disappointing from the Uruguayan.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
27 mins: Yellow card. Liverpool look to break with speed through the heart of a retreating Brentford defence. Nunez feeds Jota but he collides with Mbeumo who goes into the referee’s book after bringing down the Portuguese forward on the halfway line.
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