MatchThe opposition lowdown: Brentford

Team news

Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken is set to be fit for the trip to L4 after being replaced last weekend against West Ham United at half-time.

Josh Dasilva (hamstring), Keane Lewis-Potter (calf) and Mikkel Damsgaard (knee) have all returned to training this week, though Shandon Baptiste, Myles Peart-Harris and Kevin Schade will all miss the visit to Merseyside.

Defenders Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey are absent long term.

The view from Brentford

Jay Harris, Brentford FC reporter at The Athletic

On Brentford’s season so far…

Brentford started the season in good form with a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and a 3-0 victory over their west London rivals Fulham, but things were looking rocky after a six-match winless run, which included a dramatic defeat to Manchester United. It was proving difficult to deal with Ivan Toney’s suspension and injuries to key players including Rico Henry and Kevin Schade.

However, three wins in a row have lifted them up the table and they will head to Anfield full of confidence.

On the Bees’ dangermen…

Bryan Mbeumo keeps improving every season and he is currently in the best form of his life. He scored nine goals in the Premier League last season and already has six in 11 games.

Ethan Pinnock and Christian Norgaard have been immense too, but Mathias Jensen is the side’s heartbeat. He pulls the strings in midfield and Liverpool will need to be aware of his pinpoint set-piece delivery.

On Thomas Frank’s style of play…

Frank likes his team to build out from the back. They signed centre-back Nathan Collins from Wolves in the summer and he is often responsible for bringing the ball forward to initiate attacks. They are often more direct against top teams and try to take less risks.

Their 2-0 victory over Chelsea is the perfect example. In the first half they were too open at times, but after the break they were more compact and worked the ball out wide well to hurt Chelsea.

Predicted line-up and formation

Brentford’s injury list keeps getting better each week and they currently don’t have a natural left-back because Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey are out injured long term. I expect Thomas Frank will switch to a 3-5-2 to keep it tight and hope they can repeat their performance from the 3-1 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium in January.

3-5-2: Flekken (GK), Collins (RCB), Pinnock (CB), Mee (LCB), Ajer (RWB), Janelt (CM), Norgaard (CM), Jensen (CM), Roerslev (LWB), Wissa (ST), Mbeumo (ST)

Recent Anfield meeting

The Reds secured a 1-0 victory over Brentford when they last visited Anfield towards the end of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.

Mohamed Salah provided the difference for the hosts, scoring in the 13th minute to settle the contest in May.

What they said

Thomas Frank, Brentford manager

“For five years, Liverpool have been one of the top teams not just in the Premier League but the world. They have a fantastic coach and coaching staff and great players. They have new energy in their squad with some of their new signings. [Dominik] Szoboszlai is a fantastic player.

“[Darwin] Nunez is getting closer to his top, and [Diogo] Jota is a top player. [Luis] Diaz – I’m pleased to hear his parents are now safe – is a fantastic player. Then you have the standout guy, 25-plus goals, Salah.

“It’s an unbelievable team at Anfield – one of the most difficult away grounds to go to, if not the most difficult. It will be a tough test, but as always we trust ourselves. We will try to take the game to Liverpool.”

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