Match reportLiverpool net four in Premier League victory over Brentford
Liverpool produced a clinical display on Saturday lunchtime as they earned a 4-1 victory over Brentford in the Premier League.
A sublime effort from Darwin Nunez in the first half was followed by goals from Alexis Mac Allister and substitutes Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo after the interval in London.
Ivan Toney got on the scoresheet for the Bees at Gtech Community Stadium, though his effort to make it 3-1 proved to be a consolation strike for the hosts.
Team news
Liverpool made two changes for the visit to Brentford as Salah returned to the matchday squad.
Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jarell Quansah in the alterations from the win over Burnley.
Salah was named on the substitutes' bench, while Joe Gomez was restored to the squad after illness, though Alisson Becker was absent due to injury.
Captain Virgil van Dijk also made his 250th appearance for the Reds in all competitions.
Kelleher, Endo, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz, Nunez (Gakpo, 46), Mac Allister (Elliott, 83), Jones (Gravenberch, 34), Jota (Salah, 44), Robertson, Bradley (Gomez, 83).
Unused substitutes: Adrian, Tsimikas, McConnell, Quansah.
First half
The afternoon started at a good pace in the capital, with both teams exchanging early attacks as the game failed to settle into a rhythm.
Vitaly Janelt first dragged an effort wide for Brentford, before Nunez's dangerous ball into the box was cleared.
It was Liverpool, though, who forced the opening action from either goalkeeper, as Bradley tested the quick reactions of Mark Flekken.
The full-back's clever burst forward resulted in a shot from the outside of his boot inside the area, ahead of Jota's follow-up being blocked by the home stopper.
Toney then saw two chances come and go, with his initial effort falling inches past the far post after a ball into the box from Neal Maupay, before Caoimhin Kelleher met a low drive with strong hands at a quick break for the hosts.
In response, shortly after the 20-minute mark, Jota's dipping volley was saved well once again by Flekken, with Liverpool asserting their first spell of sustained pressure in the game.
After the half-hour stage, however, the Reds were forced into their first change of the fixture, with Curtis Jones being replaced by Ryan Gravenberch due to injury.
Moments after the substitution, it was Liverpool who broke the deadlock and grabbed the advantage in the contest thanks to a sublime piece of skill.
Brentford saw a free-kick quickly cleared with men committed and Jota won a brilliant header on halfway to release Nunez through on goal.
The No.9 broke at pace and calmly lifted the ball over the onrushing Flekken and into the back of the net with a wonderfully weighted chip.
Ahead of the half-time interval and in the last meaningful action, Jota was also forced off after a collision, with Salah making his return from the bench in his place.
Second half
Goalscorer Nunez departed at the break, with Gakpo replacing the forward in the third change of the afternoon for Liverpool.
Luis Diaz signalled the first intent of the second period, dancing in between home defenders to shoot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Salah then dinked a shot past the post after a swift break from a Van Dijk clearance, though the Reds didn't have to wait much longer to add to the scoreline.
Mac Allister was the one to find the back of the net from close range, with Salah's pinpoint pass into his feet allowing the midfielder to take a touch and prod home as he advanced towards the six-yard box.
The Reds' cushion added freedom to their play, and Bradley almost delivered a third, seeing a curling effort whistle just over the bar from distance.
Another slick move, involving a one-two between Salah and Diaz, nearly allowed Liverpool in, but a retreating block denied the latter at the decisive moment.
With a little more than 20 minutes remaining, the Reds finally had their third, as Salah pounced to find the far corner of the net.
The No.11 sprinted forward to pick up the loose ball following a flick-on from Gakpo, ahead of driving into the area and finishing brilliantly past Flekken.
However, Brentford did net a consolation goal in the 75th minute, with Toney scoring from inside the box after Kelleher saved a well-struck shot from Sergio Reguilon.
But Liverpool went on to bag a fourth goal, with Diaz capitalising on a Brentford mistake at the back. The No.7 set Gakpo free into the area and the attacker made no mistake with a low strike into the bottom left corner.
There was still time late on for Kelleher to make an outstanding reaction save off his line from Toney at close range, while Van Dijk saw a thumping header crash against the crossbar.
Attendance: 17,193
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