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
22 mins: Van Dijk already has an assist and a yellow card but now he fancies a goal. It’s a well-hit strike from outside the box which whistles wide of the Brentford goal.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
20 mins: It’s not the start that Brentford would have wanted against this in-form Liverpool side. Mbeumo registers their first shot on target but it’s a long-range effort and Alisson saves it comfortably.
Up the other end, Liverpool win a corner but Pinnock clears.
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
Here’s the replay of Liverpool’s opener courtesy of Salah:
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
16 mins: Nunez races through on goal and sees his powerful effort saved well by Raya before the offside flag goes up.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Brentford (Salah, 13)
Well, Brentford dealt with that earlier corner but they don’t deal with the next cross and Liverpool are ahead!
Van Dijk meets Fabinho’s cross and heads it across goal where Salah is waiting to meet it. The Egyptian bundles it into the net and wheels away in celebration. That’s his 100th goal at Anfield and a record ninth in a row at home.
The perfect start for the hosts.
Liverpool 0-0 Brentford
12 mins: It’s good play from Liverpool down the left and Salah is set free. The Egyptian whips in an enticing cross with the outside of his boot which Nunez can’t quite connect with.
Brentford clear it out for a corner which comes to nothing.
Liverpool 0-0 Brentford
8 mins: Robertson and Liverpool have a free-kick of their own now and it’s Konate who gets an impressive leap but fails to make contact with the cross. They win a corner which Brentford clear as far as Salah but his effort is easily gathered by Raya in the Brentford goal.
Liverpool 0-0 Brentford
5 mins: Yellow card. That’s a really poor challenge from Van Dijk on Onyeka and the Liverpool centre-back is shown an early yellow. He’ll have to walk that tightrope for the remaining 85 minutes up against Toney.
Jensen whips in the corner but it goes straight out for a goal kick.
Liverpool 0-0 Brentford
2 mins: An awkward landing from Toney in the opening moments as he limps gingerly after getting up. Liverpool look to break through Jota but the forward slips as he looks to cut inside onto his right foot and the Brentford defence recover.
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