Brentford boss Thomas Frank is looking forward to watching Ivan Toney battle against Virgil Van Dijk again and has vowed to attack Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Toney was his side’s standout star when the two clubs played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at the Brentford Community Stadium back in September.
The forward claimed an assist for his side before Van Dijk produced a superb tackle to deny him a winner in the closing stages.
And Frank, who has also spoken to Toney about his mini-goal drought, is hoping his side can find areas that can trouble Liverpool this weekend, just like they did back in September.
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“Virgil is a decent defender so it will be a good battle,” the Brentford boss said.
“I hope we have some areas that can trouble Liverpool and I know in the 3-3 game we did fantastic but I watched it back on Thursday and Liverpool were very, very good.
“It is going to be a good game for us.”
Before Frank continued on Toney’s mini-goal drought, saying: “I just showed him seven or eight situations from the Southampton game where he is nearly in, in the right area for a cross or a chipped ball behind and it is just about the quality of the cross or him being a little bit sharper.
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“I think he is just a bit closer to where he is when he is at his best. The last two games you see the sharpness of his touches was not where it normally is.
“We spoke about that and he worked very hard (on Friday) but it is normal that he goes a little up and down. He is a player who is good to stay in games and the more he works to get that level up I think he will be fine.”
Liverpool will once again be without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for the game, with the two currently competing at the Africa Nations Cup in Cameroon.
But while Frank admits his side will be heading to Anfield looking to attack their hosts, the Brentford boss still acknowledges that the Reds have plenty of talent in their ranks despite Mane and Salah both being missing.
He said: “Mane and Salah are two world-class players and have done fantastic for Liverpool. I still think they have very good players in Jota, Firmino, Minamino, Jones.
“It will still be a top side they are putting on the pitch.
"We know it will be unbelievably difficult but we will embrace the moment and try to attack and do our very best to win.”
