Liverpool once again find themselves in crisis after Brentford condemned them to a fourth straight Premier League loss at the Gtech Stadium, winning 3-2. The Reds seemed to have arrested their miserable form after tearing Eintracht Frankfurt apart in the Champions League this week, but their domestic form remains markedly wobbly. Visiting west London, they were trailing with just five minutes on the clock as Dango Ouattara fired home from a heaved Michael Kayode long throw, and the lead was doubled shortly before half-time as Kevin Schade scored on the break.
In the fifth of three added minutes, though, Milos Kerkez pulled one back. The door was open for Liverpool to flip the match’s momentum after the break, but they failed to capitalise on what should have been a pivotal moment. They were slightly improved on return to the pitch but remained frustrated by Brentford’s stalwart defending, and they were punished. Igor Thiago restored Brentford’s two-goal advantage from the spot on the hour mark to all but confirm the win, and Mohamed Salah’s late strike was a mere consolation.
Liverpool responded with colossal attacking pressure through the late stages of the match and seven minutes of added time, but Brentford stood firm to secure a famous victory. The result leaves Slot with more awkward questions to answer ahead of a midweek Carabao Cup meeting with Crystal Palace. Catch up with the game as it happened below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.
Brentford vs Liverpool latest news
- GOAL! Salah pulls another back
- GOAL! Thiago scores from the spot
- GOAL! Kerkez pulls one back
- GOAL! Schade makes it two before the break
- GOAL! Ouattara finishes Kayode's long throw
FULL TIME: Brentford 3-2 Liverpool
22:10 , Arthur FerridgeSzoboszlai gets a shot off and draws a great save from Kelleher, and that does it! After a remarkable barrage late in injury time, Brentford hold on to their slim lead and secure a famous victory!
Brentford 3-2 Liverpool
22:08 , Arthur Ferridge90+10mins: Lewis-Potter gets it away! We must nearly be done here...
Brentford 3-2 Liverpool
22:08 , Arthur Ferridge90+10mins: Liverpool are given a corner after Kelleher held onto the ball for too long. Mamardashvili is up for this one.
Brentford 3-2 Liverpool
21:59 , Arthur Ferridge90+1mins: Seven added minutes!
GOAL! Brentford 3-2 Liverpool | Salah '89
21:57 , Arthur FerridgeIt will be a nervous finish here! The Bees get caught playing out from the back and Szoboszlai is quick to find Salah, who fires home.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:51 , Arthur Ferridge83mins: Odd call from Slot as Joe Gomez comes on in place of Florian Wirtz.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:46 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: Brentford clear their lines from the corner. This has been an impressive defensive display.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:46 , Arthur Ferridge77mins: Ekitike’s shot is deflected behind for a corner.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:45 , Arthur Ferridge77mins: Schade catches Konate for a second time in as many minutes, and he is duly booked.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:44 , Arthur Ferridge75mins: Schade catches Konate late and is penalised. Slot is less than impressed.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:41 , Arthur Ferridge71mins: Liverpool are turning on the gas here, but they’re going frustrated so far.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:38 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: Liverpool last lost four League matches in a row back in 2021. Time is fast running out for them to dodge that ignominy of equalling that record.
The wonderkid Rio Ngumoha replaces Curtis Jones, who seems to have suffered a knock.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:37 , Arthur Ferridge68mins: A big celebration from Ajer after he executes a neat sliding tackle to stop Salah in his tracks.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:34 , Arthur Ferridge66mins: Kayode puts a brilliant cross into Ouattara, who is under no pressure at all but sends his effort well over the bar. Really poor. That should be 4-1.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:33 , Arthur Ferridge64mins: Mac Allister’s blocked shot falls to Salah, and Van den Berg puts his body on the line. He does brilliantly to deny him.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:32 , Arthur Ferridge63mins: Goes without saying those are remarkably attacking subs from Slot. He’s throwing everything at this.
Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
21:31 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: With Brentford two to the good, Liverpool make a triple change.
Gakpo, Bradley, and Kerkez are replaced by Robertson, Chiesa, and Mac Allister.
GOAL! Brentford 3-1 Liverpool | Thiago '60
21:28 , Arthur FerridgeAfter Liverpool were denied a penalty by VAR in the first half, Igor Thiago converts from the spot to restore Brentford’s two-goal lead.
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:27 , Arthur Ferridge59mins: PENALTY TO BRENTFORD!
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:26 , Arthur FerridgeThey seem to be checking where the offence took place. Could this free-kick become a penalty?
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:26 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: Stand-in referee Tim Robinson has been asked to slow the game down here as VAR check something...
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: Salah is booked retrospectively for a tackle on Schade.
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:24 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: Brentford win a free kick right on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:24 , Arthur Ferridge56mins: Superb save from Mamardashvili to deny Damsgaard!
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:23 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: Schade gets away on the left and plays a great ball in to Thiago, but his first touch lets him down. It takes him away from goal, and Mamardashvili gets in the way. The resultant corner comes to nothing.
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:20 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Thiago spins Konate and gets a shot off from a tight angle, but Mamardashvili does well to deny him.
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:18 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Schade picks up the long throw mantle but his effort can only reach the front post. Liverpool deal with it easily and break through Salah, but one heavy touch and Kelleher pounces to sweep it away.
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: Transpires Simon Hooper has done his hamstring.
Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:15 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: Kayode makes an adventurous cross-field run and finds Schade, who is fouled just over the halfway line. Janelt hoofs it into the box, and the ball goes behind for a goal kick.
2ND HALF: Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
21:13 , Arthur FerridgeWe’re off!
With that said, the teams are coming back out. We should be back underway momentarily.
MATCH DELAY
21:09 , Arthur FerridgeThe second half has been delayed starting here as we have been forced into a referee change!
Simon Hooper cannot continue and is being replaced.
HALF-TIME! Brentford 2-1 Liverpool
20:51 , Arthur FerridgeThat does it for the first half.
GOAL! Brentford 2-1 Liverpool | Kerkez '45+5
20:51 , Arthur FerridgeIn the fifth of the three added minutes, Kerkez latches on to Bradley’s bobbling cross and taps home to half the deficit.
Brentford 2-0 Liverpool
20:49 , Arthur FerridgeOne last Kayode long throw to end the half, but it comes to nothing. It actually overruns the box.
GOAL! Brentford 2-0 Liverpool | Schade '45
20:47 , Arthur FerridgeSCAHDE MAKES IT TWO! And you can’t say they don’t deserve it...
For all their pressure, Brentford’s second comes from nowhere. Ekitike loses it in midfield and a gorgeous ball is played to Schade, who buries a routine finish.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:45 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: Bradley cuts in off the right and looks to make inroads, but runs into traffic. He finds Jones, whose cross is cleared, but only as far as Szoboszlai. He too cannot go anywhere with it. Collins comes away with it and Brentford break, but cannot work into a shooting position.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:42 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: An extended spell of Liverpool possession ends with a curling Curtis Jones shot, but it is right down the middle of Kelleher’s goal. Easy stop for his former team-mate.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:40 , Arthur Ferridge40mins: Damsgaard is the latest Brentford player to shoot from distance, and his shot stings the outstretched palm of Mamardashvili.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:38 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: Ouattara has a crack from range, but it was always bending away from Mamardashvili’s goal.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:37 , Arthur Ferridge37mins: Remarkably, Kayode takes this throw short!
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:37 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: Mamardashvili punches the throw away, but it comes back out to Kayode. Liverpool shut him down via Kerkez, who plays the ball into touch on the opposite flank.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:36 , Arthur Ferridge35mins: Brentford are really in the mood now. Here comes another Kayode missile.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:34 , Arthur Ferridge34mins: Outtara turns Kerkez and looks to drive at goal, but is pulled back by the Hungarian, who is shown the yellow card. The Bees have a set-piece from about 45 yards out.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:33 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: Brentford have Liverpool under the cosh and Henderson has a pop from the edge of the box. His low driven effort flashes narrowly wide.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:32 , Arthur Ferridge31mins: Ouattara puts another smart cross into the Liverpool box, but the away side stand firm.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:30 , Arthur Ferridge29mins: Another long throw from Kayode is batted away, this time by Ekitike. He recycles with a cross and Collins gets a shot off, but Mamardashvili is equal to it. Schade is hurt off the ball.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:28 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Yarmoliuk hits the turf again, and Janelt is being readied to come on.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:28 , Arthur Ferridge27mins: A wonderful ball in from Szoboszlai behind has Kerkez in a crossing position, but his cross does not do the build-up justice. Ekitike was there to finish it but Kelleher got to it first.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:27 , Arthur Ferridge26mins: Yarmoliuk is back on his feet, and we play on.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:26 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: Worrying signs for Brentford here as Yarmoliuk goes down off the ball to receive treatment.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:25 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: Gakpo lashes one high and wide of the post. Not a bad effort at all from the Dutchman.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:22 , Arthur Ferridge22mins: Liverpool are heaping the pressure on now. Gakpo plays a lovely cross in for Ekitike, who can’t quite get enough direction on his headed effort.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:21 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Huge chance for Liverpool! Ekitike attempts to shoot with a backheel, but his effort is deflected. Wirtz is arriving late in the box and puts his foot through the loose ball, but his effort is wide.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:19 , Arthur Ferridge18mins: A scrappy spell now as Brentford lose the ball playing out from the back but immediately smother Salah as he looks to start an opportunistic attack. The hosts clear their lines, and Liverpool come again. They’ve had so, so much possession so far but haven’t done much with it.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:17 , Arthur Ferridge17mins: Salah’s ball for Ekitike is cut out at the back. Brentford break, but Henderson overhits his ball for Schade. Mamardashvili collects and recycles.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:16 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: Quite a pragmatic approach from Brentford, this. They are sitting nice and deep as they look to protect their narrow lead.
Liverpool are attacking patiently, but cannot find a way through the Bees block just yet.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:14 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: Jeers from the home crowd as Salah loses the ball high up the pitch and is then sold a dummy by Ajer.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:11 , Arthur Ferridge11mins: Chance for Liverpool as Gakpo plays Salah in behind, but his first touch is heavy, and Kelleher is quick off his line to smother.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:10 , Arthur Ferridge9mins: That goal has lit a fire under Liverpool, and they come forward with intent. Bradley’s cross is much too close to Kelleher, though, and he claims it easily.
Brentford 1-0 Liverpool
20:08 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: That is the sixth straight match that Liverpool have conceded first.
That stat makes for bad reading for those of a Liverpool persuasion, but there is some comfort: no team in the Premier League has dropped more points from winning positions this season than Brentford.
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Liverpool | Ouattara '5
20:06 , Arthur FerridgeOuattara opens the scoring! The Kayode long throw battery is called upon again and he launches the ball into the six-yard box. It is flicked on by Ajer, and Ouattara pounds it home from close range.
Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Henderson curls an inviting cross into the box, but there is no Brentford player there to get on the end of it.
Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
20:03 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Brentford win a throw-in high up the pitch and Kayode heaves it into the box. The ball soars goalwards, but Van Dijk nods it away.
Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
20:02 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: A placid start from Liverpool, who are dressed tonight in green.
KICK-OFF!
20:00 , Arthur FerridgeWe are UNDERWAY at the Gtech Community Stadium!
The players are out...
19:58 , Arthur FerridgeKick-off is moments away!
Not long to go now
19:50 , Arthur FerridgeWith ten minutes left until kick-off, here’s a reminder of today’s team news.
Brentford starting XI: Kelleher; Ajer, Van den Berg, Collins, Kayode; Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago, Ouattara
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Jones; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
Slot defends Salah
19:45 , Arthur FerridgeArne Slot thinks Mo Salah’s contributions to Liverpool speak for themselves, in spite of his dip in form.
Asked whether he was still a key player, Slot said: “Do I have to explain, or do the numbers speak for themselves? He is so influential for this club. Unfortunately, like the whole team, we haven’t brought the best out in every player just yet.”
Van Dijk hits a milestone
19:40 , Arthur FerridgeTonight will be Virgil van Dijk’s 150th match as Liverpool captain.
He’s done alright in that time...
Slot on facing Henderson
19:30 , Arthur FerridgeArne Slot praised Jordan Henderson before lining up opposite him this evening.
He said: "Although I haven't worked with him, we are also going to face Jordan Henderson.
"In the Netherlands, people keep talking about how much Ajax misses Jordan Henderson.
"This shows how important he was to Ajax, how important he was to Liverpool and how important he is now to Brentford.”
Henderson faces his old side
19:20 , Arthur FerridgeJordan Henderson made his name as a Liverpool legend, and faces his old club today for the first time since leaving.
He faced them four times with Sunderland, though, coming away with a win and a draw.
Henderson made just shy of 500 appearances in his Liverpool career, lifting the Premier League in 2019-20 and becoming 2018-19 Champions League.
Brentford XI
19:10 , Arthur FerridgeNo great shocks in the Brentford lineup.
Igor Thiago leads the line after making a strong start to the season, with five goals in eight League appearances.
Jordan Henderson gets the nod in the middle of the park against his former club.
Liverpool XI
18:59 , Arthur FerridgeThe main takeaway from that Liverpool squad is, of course, that neither Alexander Isak nor Ryan Gravenberch will be involved due to injury.
Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah have both made subdued starts to the season, but both start here.
Alexis Mac Allister keeps his place on the bench.
Conor Bradley gets the nod in place of Jeremie Frimpong, while Milos Kerkez, previously considered a doubt, also starts.
BRENTFORD STARTING XI
18:48 , Arthur FerridgeHere’s how the hosts line up.
Brentford starting XI: Kelleher; Ajer, Van den Berg, Collins, Kayode; Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago, Ouattara
Subs: Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Jensen, Nelson, Carvalho, Onyeka, Lewis-Potter, Janelt
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI
18:46 , Arthur FerridgeIsak left out!
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Jones; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
Subs: Woodman, Gonmez, Endo, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Robertson, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha
Team news coming up
18:40 , Arthur FerridgeWe will find out how Brentford and Liverpool will line up in five minutes, but will this man be involved? Stay tuned to find out!
Liverpool predicted XI
18:30 , Arthur FerridgeArne Slot has a few injuries to consider tonight. Here’s how we think Liverpool could line up at the Gtech.
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
Injured: Frimpong, Alisson, Leoni
Doubts: Isak, Gravenberch
Why the late kick-off?
18:20 , Arthur FerridgeThis game was initially scheduled for the early Saturday kick-off, which is often broadcast live on TV in the UK on TNT Sports.
The reason why the game has been moved is because Liverpool played away in Europe on Wednesday.
Premier League rules stipulate that teams cannot play in the early slot on a Saturday if they have played Champions League football on the continent just three days previously.
Standard Sport prediction
18:10 , Arthur FerridgeThe Bees are a tricky customer at home, and they have been a mixed bag in Andrews’ first few games at the helm.
Liverpool, despite putting in an impressive performance against Frankfurt, have looked disjointed in recent weeks, and with the absence of a number of key players, that could have an effect on them.
That said, they should have enough quality to defeat Brentford, although it will be a tough test.
Liverpool to win, 2-1.
Brentford early team news
18:00 , Arthur FerridgeAaron Hickey won’t feature but is set to resume full training this weekend and will be assessed ahead of the meeting with Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, Antoni Milambo is out for the campaign with his own ACL injury, with Paris Maghoma on the comeback trail following a thigh issue.
He played for Brentford’s B team on Tuesday along with Gustavo Nunes, who is also fit again.
Liverpool early team news: No Isak?
17:50 , Arthur FerridgeSlot delivered a four-man Liverpool injury update on Friday morning ahead of the Brentford clash.
Alexander Isak was taken off at half-time against Frankfurt as a precautionary measure, with the Swede feeling his groin and becoming a “question mark” to face the Bees.
There are whisperings that he did not travel to London with the squad.
The same applies to Ryan Gravenberch, who missed the trip to Germany after suffering an ankle knock against Manchester United.
Jeremie Frimpong will not feature in west London because of a hamstring injury, Alisson Becker is not ready for a return and Giovanni Leoni is out long-term with an ACL rupture.
How to watch Brentford vs Liverpool
17:40 , Arthur FerridgeTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports. Coverage starts at 7pm BST on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate ahead of the 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog!
Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights shortly after the final whistle with Match of the Day broadcasting on BBC One at 10.25pm BST.
Good evening
17:29 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Brentford vs Liverpool!
Arne Slot’s men nipped their losing run in the bud in midweek - can they keep the good feeling going under the lights in west London?
Follow along right here for all the latest team news and minute-by-minute updates from kick-off, pencilled in for 8pm.
