Liverpool v Brentford – Preview, Predictions, and Best Bets

Liverpool host Brentford at Anfield on Sunday afternoon in the English Premier League. The Bees have won their last three league matches but the Reds have beaten them to nil in both recent fixtures on Merseyside.

Liverpool Form

Jurgen Klopp’s team have been beaten just twice in 17 matches in all competitions this season. The second loss was on Thursday night, a 3-2 at Toulouse with a heavily rotated team. They only put up 1.07 xG from 72% possession in a poor showing. The only other match lost all season was with nine-men at Tottenham after a 96th-minute own goal.

That loss was followed by five wins in the next six including 5-1 vs Toulouse at home and 3-0 at Anfield vs Nottingham Forest. A 2-1 win at Bournemouth followed to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Last weekend, Liverpool needed a 95th-minute equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw at Luton as missed six out of six ‘big chances.

Liverpool Team News

Klopp rested almost his entire starting XI on Thursday. Only Kostas Tsimikas and Luis Diaz are set to start again on Sunday. Alexis Mac Allister is suspended for this match which isn’t ideal with Ryan Gravenberch a doubt due to a knee injury.

Andy Robertson remains out injured and Thiago Alcantara is yet to play this season. Stefan Bajcetic is another absentee. Klopp may go with Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo in the engine room in this match. Virgil Van Dijk should shake off an illness to start.

Liverpool Motivation

Liverpool are very strong at home and nothing less than a win and a few goals will be good enough.

They know Brentford will play 5-3-2 with two fast forwards guarding against counters is the key. Klopp will throw on extra attackers like Gakpo and Jota if the scores are level.

Brentford Form

Brentford have had three distinct spells this season. They went unbeaten with three draws in their opening four matches. A tough spell followed due to injuries with three losses in the next four. A 3-1 defeat at home to Everton was a very poor display before late conceding twice in injury time to lose 2-1 at Man Utd.

After that start of one win in eight matches, they have taken nine points from their last three fixtures. A 3-0 thrashing of Burnley saw complete dominance before winning 2-0 at Chelsea and then 3-2 at home against West Ham last weekend. They scored two headers and benefitted from an own goal in that victory.

Brentford Team News

The Bees are really stretched by injuries. Rico Henry is out long-term and fellow left-back Aaron Hickey won’t play again in 2023. Ivan Toney’s suspension and injuries to Kevin Schade and Keane Lewis-Potter means the attacking options are limited.

Mark Flekken is doubtful in goal after a dead leg and attacking midfield trio Mikkel Damsgaard, Josh Dasilva, and Shandon Baptiste are all either injured or just back from injury. Ben Mee is fit again and is set to replace striker Neil Maupay as a 5-3-2 is used instead of a 4-3-3.

Brentford Motivation

Brentford will play a back five against one of the league’s top teams. The style is compact, defensive, and direct when winning the ball.

A draw would feel like a win here and the Bees will set up from minute one to avoid losing the match.

Key Stats

Liverpool’s last 47 home league matches have seen just 1 loss (36 wins, 10 draws)

Liverpool have scored 14 goals in their last 5 league matches at home

Brentford have won their last 3 EPL matches

Brentford have lost their last 2 league matches at Anfield to zero

Brentford have seen Both Teams to Score NO in 7 of their last 10 away matches

Verdict

Brentford will make life difficult for Liverpool, but the Reds should have too much. A win to zero looks like a smart bet in this one. Salah is tipped to get on the scoresheet as well.

Best Bet: Liverpool to win to zero at 2.80
Alternative Bet: Liverpool win (-1 handicap) at 2.05
High-Value Goalscorer Tip: Salah to score 2 or more goals at 5.25

BET Contributor