Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah scored as Liverpool defeated Brentford 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday.
Díaz opened the scoring with a well-executed counterattack early in the match, and Salah added a second goal midway through the second half. Brentford’s Christian Nørgaard and Nathan Collins both had opportunities to level the match, but the Bees were unable to find the back of the net despite a strong performance.
Brentford switched their formation to 3-5-2, bringing in Keane Lewis-Potter for Kevin Schade in their second match of the Premier League season. Fábio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg, former Liverpool players, were on the bench, while Ivan Toney remained absent for the second consecutive week.
Liverpool took the lead with their first shot on goal. After Ibrahima Konaté cleared a corner, Diogo Jota initiated a rapid counterattack, passing to Díaz, who finished powerfully past Mark Flekken.
The home side pushed for a second goal. Salah had a chance but sent a shot over the bar under pressure, while Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick just before the half-hour mark skimmed over the crossbar.
Brentford had a significant chance to equalize when Nørgaard’s header went wide. Jensen then tried a long-range effort that also missed the target, while a determined effort by Lewis-Potter forced a save from Liverpool’s keeper, Alisson.
In the second half, both teams had attempts to score. Lewis-Potter played a critical role for Brentford, creating chances, including a blocked shot, and Collins threatened Liverpool with a header that forced another good save from Alisson.
However, Liverpool managed to secure their second goal when Salah, assisted by Mac Allister and Díaz, lifted the ball over Flekken. In the closing minutes, Collins was again pivotal in defense, deflecting Cody Gakpo’s shot onto the crossbar, ensuring the score remained 2-0.
Brentford’s coach Thomas Frank praised his team’s first-half performance, stating that they pressed effectively and defended well, limiting Liverpool’s chances. He emphasized the need to improve on key moments that led to Liverpool’s goal.
Lewis-Potter also highlighted the positives from the match, acknowledging that despite the loss, Brentford had moments of success, particularly in set-pieces during the first half. He expressed hope that the team could build on their performance moving forward.