Liverpool 2-0 Brentford: Match Report & Ratings | OneFootball

Written by Priya Kaur

The Reds hosted Brentford at Anfield in the first home game of the season.

The first half was emphatic as Liverpool were in control and dictated the pace of the game and as expected, Brentford dropped into a deep-lying compact unit.

Only 11 seconds after a Brentford corner was taken, Liverpool were on the counter, bombing up the pitch after a loose ball was picked up by Diogo Jota.

It was almost lightning fast as the in-form Luis Diaz slammed the ball into the net, past Mark Flekken.

Liverpool had the lead due to Diaz’s blistering pace and what a way to celebrate his 100th appearance!

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Into the 23rd minute, Slot’s side accumulated 57% possession, but nevertheless Brentford looked threatening as Roerslev put a cross into the six-yard box.

Collins took a shot, but it was denied and when approaching the end of the first half, he blocked a cross from Trent Alexander Arnold as he cut inside from the right.

Just two minutes into the second half, Brentford’s goalkeeper Flekker, had to make a crucial save to block out Robertson’s near-post header.

The Bees were on the counter and Mbeumo’s shot was blocked by Ibrahima Konate. Brentford took their corner short, but it was kicked over the crossbar.

A deflected cross from Trent caused another corner and a ball from Collins forced a brilliant save from Alisson.

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Liverpool seemed to grow into the game, approaching the hour mark showing signs of football that was ‘pretty’ and ‘purposeful’ and it was none other than the Egyptian king to solidify that.

After Brentford lost the ball in midfield, Macallister and Diaz worked hard to deliver; a 2-0 lead was definitely needed.

Substitutions from Slot saw goalscorer Diaz, Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold off for Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Conor Bradley.

An immediate impact for the Uruguayan showed Darwin in a very familiar position to last season- offside! The ball sailed across the box and went wide, despite being an easy header.

Ryan Gravenberch was OUTSTANDING in the No 6 role!

In the extra-time of the 90, the impressive number 6, Ryan Gravenberch, made way for Wataru Endo, providing fresh legs in midfield.

The whistle blew and for the first time since 1991, a newly appointed manager won his first two games in charge; an extremely satisfying sight for us Reds!

Ratings

XI: Alisson 8, Trent Alexander Arnold 8, Ibrahima Konate 8, Virgil Van Dijk 7, Andy Robertson 7, Alexis Macallister 6.5, Dominik Szoboszlai 7, Ryan Gravenberch 8, Mohamed Salah 8, Diogo Jota 6, Luis Diaz 8.

Subs: Darwin Nunez 6, Cody Gakpo 6, Conor Bradley 7, Wataru Endo N/A