Liverpool claimed a 2-0 victory over Brentford at Anfield on Sunday, with goals from Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah securing the win for the home side.
Díaz opened the scoring early in the match after a swift counter-attack, finding the net before Salah added a second midway through the second half. Brentford, despite their efforts, could not find a way to break through Liverpool’s defense, with Christian Nørgaard and Nathan Collins coming close to equalizing.
In the match, Brentford made a tactical switch to a 3-5-2 formation, bringing on Keane Lewis-Potter to replace Kevin Schade for their second Premier League fixture of the season. Former Liverpool players Fábio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg were named on the bench, while Ivan Toney was again absent from the squad.
Liverpool took the lead with their first shot on goal when Ibrahima Konaté cleared a corner, prompting Diogo Jota to initiate a quick counter. Jota passed to Díaz, who struck the ball past goalkeeper Mark Flekken. The home side sought a quick second, with Andy Robertson’s efforts thwarted by Flekken, and Salah missing a chance under pressure.
Brentford had an opportunity to equalize when Nørgaard failed to connect cleanly with a header. As the match progressed, Brentford started to assert themselves, with Jensen attempting a long-range shot that missed the target.
In the second half, Jota’s overhead kick was saved by Flekken, while Lewis-Potter, a bright spot for Brentford, was involved in several attacks. Although Collins made crucial defensive plays, Liverpool extended their lead when Salah, assisted by Mac Allister and Díaz, expertly lobbed the ball over Flekken.
Brentford’s Collins continued to perform well, preventing potential goals from Liverpool’s substitutes in the closing minutes of the match.
Brentford’s head coach, Thomas Frank, praised his team’s first-half performance, expressing satisfaction with their pressure and defensive efforts, despite lamenting the moments that led to Liverpool’s goal. He recognized the second half as more challenging but acknowledged the constant threat his team posed.
Lewis-Potter also highlighted the positive aspects of their performance, particularly during the first half, noting that they had opportunities to change the game’s outcome. He emphasized the need to better manage transitions that led to Liverpool’s opening goal.