Match reportGoals from Luis Diaz and Mo Salah see Liverpool beat Brentford 2-0 at Anfield

Clinical finishes in either half were the difference at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, with Diaz’s early opener being supplemented by Salah 20 minutes from time to ensure a dominant performance yielded the three points it deserved.

The Reds were particularly impressive in the second half, with the free-flowing attacking football on display regularly wowing the home crowd as Slot’s team made it back-to-back 2-0 victories at the start of the new season.

Team news

Ibrahima Konate replaced Jarell Quansah in Slot’s sole change to the starting XI that won at Ipswich Town last week. Curtis Jones was absent from the matchday squad due to a minor injury.

Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz (Gakpo, 72), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah (Elliott, 83), Jota (Nunez, 72), Robertson, Gravenberch (Endo, 90), Alexander-Arnold (Bradley, 72).

Unused subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Tsimikas, Quansah.

First half

After 10 minutes of shadow boxing, the match burst into life when Liverpool transformed defence into attack in a matter of seconds to take the lead.

A Brentford corner was met by the head of Konate and, stationed on the edge of his own penalty area, Salah squeezed the ball into Diogo Jota.

Jota wisely delayed until Diaz’s run matched his idea before delivering a perfectly weighted pass into the Colombian’s path. From there, Diaz bore down on goal and beat Mark Flekken unerringly with his left foot.

Slot’s side visibly grew in confidence and only a smart near-post stop from Flekken prevented Andy Robertson from making it 2-0, prior to a fine team move down the right concluding with a wayward Salah shot.

Having survived that spell of concerted pressure without sustaining further damage, Brentford forged a foothold in the match and Christian Norgaard was within a whisker of glancing Bryan Mbeumo’s dangerous free-kick delivery home.

Another cross into the box, this time from Mads Roerslev in open play, was bound for Kristoffer Ajer at the back post, but Konate intervened with a crucially timed header and the Reds remained ahead at the interval.

Second half

Just as was the case at Portman Road eight days ago, Liverpool upped the ante almost immediately following the restart and, after Alisson Becker had made an excellent close-range save to repel a Nathan Collins header, Brentford’s goal came under siege.

The visitors were unable to contain the Reds, who strung together several one-touch sequences around the penalty area that married pace and precision.

Jota was foiled by a last-ditch block after brilliant play from Alexis Mac Allister and Trent Alexander-Arnold, before Flekken denied Konate and Diaz in quick succession.

Brentford’s back line was breached again soon after, however, as Diaz threaded a pass into Salah and the Egyptian impudently lifted his finish over Flekken.

With the three points sealed, it was merely a case of whether Liverpool would make the final scoreline more comprehensive and substitute Cody Gakpo nearly did just that, but his rasping drive deflected onto the crossbar with Flekken beaten.

Attendance: 60,107